Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility allows individuals who are in long-term care to take part in their routine activities and leisure activities. The devices can also pose security concerns that need to be addressed.
Rather than exclude residents with a specific diagnosis from the power mobility option, which may be considered risk management that is prejudicial, the majority of participants preferred to take an approach based on teleology and let all residents test the power mobility device.
Mobility
A power mobility device enables people with limited ability to move around their homes or communities and engage in daily activities that would otherwise be not accessible to them. These devices cause danger not only to the person using them, but also to other people who are in their surroundings. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client before making recommendations on powered mobility.
In an exploratory study (von Zweck, 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities in Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their power mobility use. The aim was to develop an environment that allowed the use of power mobility that is centered on the needs of the client. The results revealed four major themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags - safety concerns, and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can enhance the quality of life of those with limited mobility. This is because it allows them to take part in daily activities at home as well as in the community. Self-care, productive and leisure occupations are vital for physical and mental well-being of people who are older. For many who suffer from chronic illnesses, power mobility allows them to take part in these essential activities.
It was considered unacceptable by the participants to take away a wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life's story and progression and hinder them from doing the same things they did before their disease progressed. This was especially relevant for those in Facility 1 who were only in a position to use their power chair for a short period of time and were now dependent on others to push them.
Another option is to slow down the speed at which some residents drive their chairs. However, this could raise a number issues such as privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to remove a resident's wheelchair.
Safety
Power mobility allows people to move more easily. green power scooter can also participate in a wider range of activities, as well as run around on their own. However, with increased freedom of movement comes a greater chance of accidents. These accidents could result in serious injuries for some. It is important to think about the safety of your clients prior to recommending the use of power mobility.
The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client is able to safely operate their power wheelchair or scooter. This could involve an assessment of physical health by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's impairment and their current health. In some instances, a vehicle lift will be required to make it possible for your client to load and unload their mobility device at home in the community, or at work.
Another aspect of safety is to learn the rules of the road. This includes sharing space, with other wheelchair users, pedestrians and the drivers of cars or buses. A majority of the participants mentioned this theme.
For some this, it meant learning to use their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through crowded areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do this). For others, it meant driving more slowly in a busy environment and watching out for pedestrians.
The final and least desired option was taking away a person's chair, which was viewed as a two-fold penalty that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facilities and community activities. green scooters was the view of the majority of those who were able to remove their chairs and included Diane and Harriet.
Other suggestions made by the participants included educating other residents, family members and staff about the safety of power mobility. This could involve teaching the fundamentals of driving (such as driving on the right side of a hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving strategies when they leave and assisting them in understanding how their behavior affects other people's mobility.
Follow-Up
A device that is powered by electricity can profoundly affect a child's ability to function and take part in life. There is little research into the experiences children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study employs a post-previous design to examine the effects of six months of experience with one of the four early mobility devices on a group of school-aged children of children who suffer from severe cerebral palsy (CP).
We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents, along with pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three major themes. The first theme, 'Power to move', described how the use of a powered device affected more than just the child's locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a mobility device was often an emotional, transformative journey for the participants.
The second theme, 'There isn't a recipe book,' showed that learning to utilize the power mobility device was an individualized process that unfolded over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were required to discover what was realistic for each child's needs and abilities. During the training phase, and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children as well as parents. Several parents and therapists described the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve issues that arise during the training process.
The third theme, "Shared space", explored how the use the power device can affect other people's interactions and lives. The majority of the participants in this study felt that a person must always be considerate of other people when using their mobility device. This was especially true when driving in public areas. Many participants also reported that they've encountered situations in which someone else's property was damaged through the use of a power mobility device, or when a person was injured by a driver who not yielded right-of-way.
The results of this study indicate that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be carried out in a variety of classroom settings. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this type of intervention in children with CP. This could lead to more standardized training protocols for children who have CP.