It's The One Power Mobility Trick Every Person Should Be Able To

Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility improves participation in daily activities and recreation for those in long term care. However, the devices can also cause safety issues that need to be addressed.

The majority of participants choose to take a teleological approach and give all residents the opportunity to test the device, instead of exclude those with specific diagnoses, which could be considered an unfair risk management.

Mobility

A power mobility device is a way for people with limited mobility to move around their community or home, and also to take part in daily activities that they may not be able to do. These devices can pose a risk not only for the person who uses them, but also to other people who share their space or environment. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations regarding powered mobility.

In an exploratory study (von Zweck 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents regarding their use of power mobility. The aim was to develop 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 greatly improve the quality of life for individuals who are mobility-challenged by permitting them to take part in a variety of everyday living activities at home as well as in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, active and recreational occupations are vital for physical and mental well-being of the elderly. For many with progressive diseases, power mobilty allows them to take part in these vital activities.

The majority of participants felt it was unacceptable to remove the resident's chair since this would cause a major disruption in their life story or course of action, and ultimately stop them from continuing to engage in the same activities that they used to do prior to their illness progressed. This was especially true 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 solution would be to slow down the speed at which some residents drive their chairs. However it could create several issues, including privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away the wheelchair of a resident.

Safety

Power mobility allows disabled people to move more freely and participate in a greater variety of activities, and even complete the errands. However, with increased freedom of movement comes a higher risk of accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for a few. This is why it is crucial to consider the safety of your client prior to recommending that they use power mobility.

First, determine if your client can safely operate their power chair or scooter. Based on the severity of their impairment and the condition of their current health, this might involve a physical evaluation by a physician or occupational therapist, or having a conversation with a mobility expert to determine if a particular device would be appropriate for them. In certain situations it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be required to make it possible for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or at work.

Another aspect of safety is to learn the rules of the road. This involves sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. A majority of the participants discussed this topic.

Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving in the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specifically made to be used in this way). Others drove slower and looked out for pedestrians in a crowded environment.

green electric scooter My Mobility Scooters and least desired option that was to take away the wheelchair of a person, was seen as a double-punishment: losing independence in mobility and preventing them from taking part in community and facility activities. This was the view of most participants who had their chairs removed and included Diane and Harriet.

The participants also suggested that family members, and staff be educated on the safe use of power mobility. This could include teaching basic driving skills (such as the correct side to walk on in a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving techniques when they leave, and helping them understand how their behavior affects the mobility of other people.

Follow-Up

A child's ability and willingness to be a part of the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. Yet there isn't much research about the experience of children who are learning to use this equipment. This study employs a pre-post design to examine the impact of 6 months of experience using one of four early power mobility devices on the children in school with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents along with occupational and physical therapists who work with children. Thematic analysis identified three major themes. The first theme, 'Power to move', described how the use of a powered device affected more than just locomotor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device can be a transformative, emotionally charged experience for those who participated.

The second theme, 'There's no such thing as a recipe book,' showed that learning to utilize a power mobility device was an individualized process that developed over time in a cyclical manner. Therapists were tasked with unearthing what was appropriate for the individual 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 achievements and address issues related to the process of training.

The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of a power device can impact other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should always show consideration for others when using their power mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public areas. Participants also shared that they've seen instances where property of someone else's was damaged due to the use a power mobility device, or a person has been injured by a motorist who did not yield the right of way.

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training is feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this type of intervention in young children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standardized training protocols for children with CP.