Responding to the Health and Disability Service Needs of People Ageing with Spinal Cord Injury: Implications from an Australian Study

Abstract

In the course of a large retrospective research study exploring implications of ageing with a spinal cord injury (SCI), 84 participants were asked to provide responses to a brief telephone questionnaire regarding the nature and quality of their utilisation of various health and disability services. The aim of this study was to explore service utilisation, level of satisfaction with the services utilised, and the nature of the support received from these services for a sample of people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI). Findings highlighted that people ageing with SCI have need of a range of health and disability services predominantly focusing on achieving instrumental assistance. Satisfaction with service was generally high and demonstrated the importance of interpersonal communication skills, technical competence and responsiveness in the delivery of outcomes.