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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as recreational pursuits for individuals in long term care. However, the devices could also create safety concerns that need to be addressed. Rather than exclude residents with certain diagnoses from the use of power mobility as it could be viewed as risk management that is prejudicial, the majority of participants preferred to take a teleological approach and allow all residents to trial the power mobility device. Mobility A power mobility device enables people who are unable to move around their community or home and participate in daily living activities that are otherwise impossible for them. However, these devices can also pose a risk for the person using them, and other people who are in their space. Therapists in occupational therapy must assess each client's safety needs to make the most appropriate suggestions regarding 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 regarding their power mobility use. The aim was to create a framework for client-centred power mobility prescribing. The findings revealed four main themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags concerning safety, and (4) solutions. Power mobility can enhance the quality of life of people who have limited mobility. This is because it allows them to participate in daily activities at home as well as in the community. Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is vital to mental and physical health for older adults and for those with chronic illnesses power mobility is the opportunity to keep participating in these vital activities. Participants found it unacceptable to take away a wheelchair in order to alter their life's story and progression and stop them from engaging in the same things they did before their disease worsened. This was especially the case for those in Facility 1, who had been in a position to use their chairs for short periods of time and were dependent on others to help them move around the facility. Another potential solution was reducing the speed at which residents drove their chairs, however this could have raised issues such as privacy issues and the impact on other residents in the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away the wheelchair of a resident. Safety Power mobility allows people with disabilities to get around more freely and participate in a greater range of activities and do errands. However, with increased mobility comes a greater risk for accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for a few. This is why it is vital to think about the security of your client before recommending that they use a power mobility. First, determine whether your client can safely operate their scooter or power chair. Based on their impairment and current health, this may require a physical examination by a physician or occupational therapist, and having a conversation with a mobility expert to determine if a specific device is suitable for them. In certain situations it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be required to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or at work. Another aspect of safety is learning the rules of the road. This involves sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. supplemental resources of participants in the study have mentioned this issue. For some it meant learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through busy areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed for doing this). Others drove more slowly and paid attention to pedestrians in a crowded environment. The final and least preferred option was taking away the chair of a person, which was seen as two-fold punishment: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facility and community activities. This was the opinion of the majority of those who had their chairs removed, including Diane and Harriet. Other ideas suggested by the participants included educating other residents, family members and staff about the safety of power mobility. This could involve teaching the basics of driving (such as driving on the right side of the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving strategies while out, and assisting them in understanding how their actions can affect the mobility of others. Follow-Up A device that is powered by electricity can significantly impact the child's ability to function and take part in life. There isn't much research into the experiences children go through when they first learn to use these devices. This study uses a pre-post design to examine the impact of 6 months of experience with one of four early power mobility devices on children in the school age group with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first theme, 'Power for mobility explained how using the power of a device affected more than just the child's locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a power mobility device was often an emotional, transformative experience for those who participated. The second theme 'There's no cookbook' revealed that learning how to use a mobility device was a process that developed in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were charged with determining the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and abilities. In the initial phase of training and following, therapists were required to be patient with children as well as parents. Parents and therapists alike described the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the training process. The third theme, "Shared space", explored how the use the power device can affect other people's lives and interactions. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should always be considerate when using a power mobility device. This was especially applicable when driving on roads that are public. Participants also said that they've seen instances where property of someone else's had been damaged by the use of a power mobility device or a person had been injured by a driver who did not yield the right of way. Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training appears feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. The next research study should investigate the training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in young children with CP. This could lead to more standardized training protocols for children suffering from CP.
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