A Guide To Power Mobility From Start To Finish

Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility allows people who are in long-term care to take part in their routine activities and leisure activities. However, the devices could also pose safety risks that need to be addressed.

Rather than exclude residents who have certain diagnoses from use of power mobility that could be considered prejudicial risk management, most participants chose to take the teleological approach and let all residents test a device.

Mobility

A power mobility device allows those who are unable to move about their homes or communities and engage in daily activities that would otherwise be impossible for them. These devices can cause danger not only for the person who uses them but also to others who share their space or environment. Therapists in occupational therapy must evaluate the safety needs of each client to provide the most appropriate suggestions regarding powered mobility.

In a study that was conducted by OTs in three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their power mobility use. The aim was to develop a framework that would allow the use of power mobility that is centered on the needs of the client. 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 greatly improve the quality of life for those who are mobility-challenged by giving them the opportunity to participate in a range of daily living activities at home as well as in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, productive and recreational activities are essential to the physical and mental health of the elderly. For those suffering from chronic illnesses, power mobility offers a way to participate in these important activities.

The majority of participants felt it was unacceptable to remove a resident's chair, as it would result in a significant disruption in their life story or path and prevent them from continuing to engage in the same activities that they had been doing before their illness progressed. This was particularly the case for those in the facility 1, who had been able to maintain their power chairs for short periods of time, but were dependent on others to push them around the facility.

Another solution would be to reduce the speed that some residents drive their chairs. However it could create 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 the wheelchair of a resident.

Safety

Power mobility allows disabled people to move more freely and take part in a wider variety of activities, and even run errands. However, with increased mobility comes a greater chance of accidents. For some, these accidents could cause serious injuries to themselves or others. It is essential to think about the safety of your clients before suggesting the use of power mobility.

The first step in assessing safety is to determine if your client is safe to operate their scooter or power wheelchair. This may include an examination of the physical by a doctor or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In some cases the use of a vehicle lift may 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 knowing the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. Most participants in the study have mentioned this issue.

Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving in the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specially designed for this purpose). For others, it meant driving more cautiously in a noisy environment and keeping an eye out for pedestrians.

The final and least preferred alternative was to take away a person's chair, which was viewed as a two-fold penalty: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facilities and community activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who had their chairs removed.

My Mobility Scooters suggested that residents, family members, and staff members be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as which side to walk on in a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills while outside and helping them recognize how their behavior affects the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

A child's ability and willingness to take part in the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. There isn't much research on the experience that children experience when they learn to make use of these devices. This study employs an approach that is pre-post to study the impact of six months' experience using one of four early power mobility devices on the children in school with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first theme, 'Power to move The theme described how the use of the power of a device affected more than just the child's motor skills. The experience of learning how to drive a motorized mobility device is usually an emotional and transformative experience.

The second theme 'There's no cookbook' revealed that the process of learning to use an equipment for mobility was a process that unfolded in a continuous manner over time. The therapists were asked to determine what was realistic depending on the individual's capabilities and requirements. In the initial phase of training and following, therapists were required to be patient with children and parents. Many parents and therapists mentioned the need to assist families celebrate their successes and work through problems that arise from the process of training.

The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of an electric device can affect the lives of others. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should be considerate when using a power device. This was especially true when driving in public spaces. Many participants also reported that they've encountered instances where another's property was damaged due to the use of a power mobility device, or when a person was injured by a driver who failed to yield the right-of-way.

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training is possible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to study the training and results for this type of intervention for children with CP. This could result in the development of more uniform training protocols for this group.