Work

What about the hands? Older adults’ attitudes and perceptions of hand function

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Age-related declines in hand function are common yet often go undiagnosed until they become severe. Perceptions play an important role in seeking care, however this relationship is largely unknown for the upper limbs. METHODS: 595 older adults (mean age: : 71.8 ± 5.5y) completed an online survey about perceptions of hand function and barriers to seeking care. Participants also completed the QuickDASH and Michigan Hand Questionnaire, which were correlated with attitudes. RESULTS: Despite most respondents (85%) agreeing that hand function is important, only 43% expressed concern about losing function. One-third of respondents considered seeking care for a limitation but did not, primarily because they felt their function was not poor enough (33%), despite 64% of these respondents indicating impairments on the QuickDASH. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide empirical evidence demonstrating the lack of attention paid to hand function, underscoring the importance of discussing and assessing age-related hand impairments before they impact independence.

Source: Geriatric Nursing

DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.103851

Authors: Rachel N. Logue Cook, Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins, Rebecca E. Hasson, Matthew A. Davis, Susan H. Brown

Institution: University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,280