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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility allows those who are in long-term care in their routine activities and leisure pursuits. However, these devices can also pose safety risks which need to be addressed. Instead of excluding residents with a specific diagnosis from the use of power mobility that could be considered prejudicial risk management, most participants preferred to take the teleological approach and let all residents try out the device. Mobility A power mobility device is a way for people who are unable to move about their community or home, and also to take part in daily activities that they might not otherwise be able to perform. However, these devices could also pose a risk to the person using them, and other people who share their space or space. Therapists in occupational therapy must assess each client's safety needs to make the best recommendations regarding powered mobility. In an exploratory study conducted by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their use of power mobility. The objective was to establish an environment that allowed for a client-centered power movement prescription. The results revealed four main themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags concern about safety and (4) solutions. Power mobility can boost the quality of life for those with limited mobility. This is due to the fact that it allows them to take part in everyday activities at home and within the community. Self-care, productive and recreational activities are essential to the physical and mental health of older adults. For many with advanced illnesses, power mobility can be a means to participate in these essential activities. Many participants considered it unacceptable to remove a resident's chair, as this could cause a huge interruption to their life or path and prevent them from pursuing the same activities they were doing prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly applicable to those in Facility 1 who had been allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and were now reliant on others to push them. Another potential solution was reducing the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, but this raised a number of issues such as privacy concerns and impact on other people in the community. In the end, taking away a resident's chair was considered the most drastic and least desired solution to security concerns. Safety Power mobility allows those with disabilities to move around more easily and take part in a wider variety of activities, and even do the errands. With increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. For some, these accidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. This is why it is crucial to think about the security of your client before suggesting they utilize power mobility. The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client is able to safely operate their scooter or power wheelchair. 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 disability and their current health. In certain situations, a vehicle lift will be necessary 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. The majority of participants in the study have mentioned this issue. Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving through the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specially designed for this purpose). Others drove more cautiously and kept an eye out for pedestrians in a crowd. The last and least preferred option of removing a person's wheelchair, was viewed as a double whammy: losing independence in mobility, and also preventing them from taking part in community and facility activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who had their chairs removed. Other suggestions made by participants included educating residents as well as family members and staff on the safe operation of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the fundamentals of driving (such as driving on the right side of a hallway), encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave and assisting them in understanding how their behavior affects the mobility of others. Follow-Up The ability of a child and their willingness to be a part of the world can be greatly affected by a device for power mobility. There has been little research on the experience that children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study uses the pre-post method to investigate the impact of six months of use with one of the four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents and also pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes. The first, 'Power in mobility explained how the use of a powered device changed more than just locomotor abilities. The process of learning to operate a powered mobility device is usually an emotional and transformative experience. The second theme, 'There's not any cookbook,' revealed that learning to utilize a power mobility device was a bespoke process that unfolded over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were tasked with unearthing the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and abilities. Through power mobility scooter and post-training phases, therapists were expected to be patient with children and parents. Many parents and therapists mentioned a need to help families celebrate their successes and work through issues that arise during the process of training. The third theme, "Shared space", examined how the use of an electric device can affect the lives of others. The majority of the participants in this study felt that one should always show consideration for others when using their power mobility device. This was especially applicable when driving on public roads. Many participants also reported that they've encountered instances where another's property was damaged due to the use of an electric mobility device, or where a person was injured due to a driver who not yielded right-of-way. Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training is possible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this type of intervention for children with CP. This should hopefully lead to the development of more standardized training protocols specifically for this group of children.
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