How Assistive Technology is Transforming Limbless Veterans’ Lives

A major report, funded by the Office of Veterans' Affairs and delivered by Blesma in association with Anglia Ruskin University, has identified a range of measures to improve the accessibility, affordability, and usability of Assistive Technology (AT), such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, and mobility scooters.

The study, which was powered by the lived experience testimony of Members, highlighted how AT can empower veterans and their families to live independently but also exposed systemic barriers that limit access.

Its recommendations, covering issues from veterans’ acceptance of the need to use ATs to the sales approaches of private companies, will influence future policies from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, which funded the research.

The report – titled Assistive Technology – Powered Mobility Devices: An Exploration of the Lived Experience of Powered Mobility Devices in Armed Forces Veterans with Limb Loss and Loss of Use of Limb – also establishes a decision-making guide to help veterans select and fund the right equipment for their needs.

The initial and associated maintenance costs of ATs was a common theme among the 26 veterans who provided first-hand evidence of their quests for greater independence and well-being. Many reported that suppliers focused on sales over truly understanding their specific needs.

“There was a strong feeling that the suppliers tend to be sales people first and do not really take into account a veteran’s needs so we have developed a matrix within the report so a veteran can use it to work out what sort of AT would work using an informative tool to help guide their purchase rather than being at the mercy of a sales approach,” says Dr Thomas Kersey, Research Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University’s Veterans & Families Institute for Military Social Research, who led the project.

One of the goals of the research is to help people get the equipment and technology that works for them empowering individuals to make informed decisions.

Dr Thomas Kersey

The report is illuminated with insights from Blesma Members whose open and honest testimony of their experiences helped shine a light on fault lines in AT provision and underscore the physical and psychological benefit from accessing the right equipment.

“Their input was vital. You need the human elements of their stories to understand how fundamental this sort of equipment is to their everyday lives,” adds Dr Kersey. “One of the Members said she was getting a gyroscopic wheelchair that could be used hands-free, which meant she could walk down the street holding her son’s hand. It is such a powerful image and statement.

"A disability really changes the dynamics of family life but the right AT can re-address that balance by allowing people to do things on their own and move from being someone who is being cared for back to family life."

The report states: “ATs, and the independence they provide, also had a direct impact on family life. because they brought a re-balance to the roles within the family, contributing to the daily running of the home and reducing the care demands, allowing family members to step out of the care role.

“However, uptake of ATs was nuanced and several barriers to accepting ATs into everyday life were identified. Initial reluctance to take up ATs were sometimes viewed as an admission of giving up. Pride and stubbornness factored into participants accepting help, alongside their own pre-conceived notions of what it means to be disabled. Participants reflected that in hindsight they would accept the help if offered again as it would preserve and maintain their health for longer had they accepted ATs into their lives earlier.”

Its recommendations include tailoring AT provision on an individual level considering the long-term impact on wellbeing and independence, establishing an ethical code of conduct for the AT industry, expanding funding and financial support for ATs, improving transportation and storage solutions and recycling and reuse opportunities.

This report is going to be useful to so many people, not just those that need ATs, but those that provide them

Brian Chenier, Blesma Support Officer Prosthetics

“Funding for statutory provision is limited and getting the best outcomes with such limited funding just makes sense. We hope that NHS providers will embrace the opportunity to look beyond the basic provision and consider the benefits ATs can have.”

He adds: “By shining a light on the benefits of ATs covered in this report, we would expect users to be more confident in the decisions they make, and that they are able to make those decisions much earlier. It will also be useful to charities like Blesma that are often asked to fund ATs that are not available through statutory funding/services. Helping us to understand the wider, more holistic positive impact our support can have is very important.

"We are grateful to the OVA for funding this research and to our members that took part. This will make a positive impact, and we aim to share this report across statutory services and the charity sector."

The OVA adds “Our veterans have shown extraordinary courage and made immense sacrifices in service to our country. We owe them our ongoing support long after they have hung up their uniform.

“The 22 projects funded through the £5 million Veterans' Health Innovation Fund are helping to transform healthcare for those who have served the UK. Blesma's research into assistive technologies is an excellent example of why this work matters so much. Its research will help veterans and their carers to understand the most effective mobility aids for their specific needs, helping them regain independence.

This is why we're investing in these projects - because our commitment to veterans doesn't end when they leave the Armed Forces.

Office for Veterans' Affairs

Read the full report