Awareness, Acceptability, Utilization, and Unmet Need of Assistive Technologies among Older Adults in an Urban Community of Western Maharashtra

Abstract Background: Assistive technologies (ATs), such as spectacles, hearing aids, mobility aids, grab rails, and digital reminder tools, are essential for maintaining functional independence among older adults. However, evidence from Indian primary care settings on AT awareness, utilization, and unmet needs remains limited. Objectives: To assess the awareness, acceptability, utilization, and unmet need of ATs among older adults in an urban community of Western Maharashtra and identify factors associated with unmet need. Materials and Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 older adults (≥60 years) using systematic random sampling at an urban health training center (UHTC). A structured questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, awareness, acceptability, utilization, need, and barriers related to AT. Unmet need was defined as the difference between AT need and its utilization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests for categorical variables, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The participants had a mean age of 69.2 ± 7.1 years ( n = 120), and 65 participants (54.1%) were female. Awareness was highest for spectacles (111/120, 92.5%) and walking sticks (94/120, 78.3%), while utilization was lower for spectacles (89/120, 74.1%), walking sticks (50/120, 41.6%), walkers (10/120, 8.3%), hearing aids (8/120, 6.6%), and digital AT (4/120, 3.3%). The overall unmet need was 82/120 (68.3%), with the highest unmet need for hearing aids (33.3%), mobility aids (29.1%), and digital AT (18.3%). The significant predictors of unmet need were living alone (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1–6.4; P = 0.03) and multimorbidity (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3–5.1; P = 0.01). Common barriers included cost (50/120, 41.7%), lack of awareness (46/120, 38.3%), stigma (32/120, 26.7%), and difficulty using AT (29/120, 24.2%). Conclusion: Despite moderate awareness, the utilization of ATs among older adults remains low, resulting in a high unmet need. Addressing affordability, accessibility, stigma, and low awareness through strengthened UHTC-based screening and referral pathways can significantly improve AT uptake and promote healthy aging.