Wheelchair as a nexus: understanding stigma in older adults with stroke in China.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

After a stroke, older adults often face compounded stigma due to disability and aging, which can hinder their rehabilitation engagement and community participation. As wheelchairs are central to long-term stroke management, their design can either reinforce or mitigate such stigma. This study explores how wheelchair design attributes influence stigma among Chinese older adults with stroke and how these perceptions affect rehabilitation adherence and social reintegration.

Method

A qualitative case study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 15 older adults with stroke, 20 caregivers and rehabilitation stakeholders, and 24 members of the general public in Hubei, China. Data were thematically analyzed within an interdisciplinary rehabilitation context to i

SUBMITTER: Chu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12834758 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature