Unmet Needs for Equipment to Help with Bathing and Toileting Among U.S. Older Adults

Using adapted toileting and bathing equipment, such as raised toilet seats, shower seats, and grab bars, prevents injuries and falls in older adults. In this observational cohort study, researchers used data from the 2015 U.S. National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to estimate the number of community-dwelling older adults (age, ≥65) who had unmet needs for adapted toileting or bathing equipment.

Among 7100 NHATS participants, representing 12 million U.S. older adults, 2600 (mean age, 81; 62% women; 25% Black; 7% Hispanic) had unmet needs for adapted toileting or bathing equipment (more than half needed both). Hence, an estimated 5 million U.S. residents had unmet equipment needs. After adjustment for numerous variables, unmet need wa…