Steven Bannister
Y Fron Mayfield Place, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, Wales, CF72 8QG

“We have to see more clients and satisfy them with less money” is a common sentiment about the demands upon UK Mobility/Postural Services. Understanding the prevalence of the medical conditions most likely to be seen by those providing these services and the changing demographics of the customer base will allow for the development of better equipment and service protocols to deal with this increasing demand.

A detailed study of a Service’s contacts with its users showed that three quarters of the issued wheelchairs went to those over the age of 60. The overview that it provides can be considered to be representative of the mobility requirements of a Western (Developed) population.

It is evident from the issues rates that there are effectively two different client groups. There is a reasonably constant demand from those who need continual mobility and for whom the wheelchair plays a critical role in their daily lives. Superimposed upon this, are the needs of the “Occasional Users” (for whom outside mobility is an issue) which exhibits a seasonal demand. These differences are explained by the clinical variations between the two groups.

During the 1998-2025 period, the world’s elderly population (ages 65 and above) is predicted to more than double whilst the world’s youth (population under age 15) will grow by 6 percent and the number of children under age 5 will increase by less than 5 percent. This rise in old-age dependency ratios will be particularly critical in the developed world, where currently more than half the worlds ‘over 65s’ live.