Power Mobility and Safety Concerns<br /><br />Power mobility allows individuals in long-term care to participate in their daily activities and leisure pursuits. However, the devices can also create safety concerns that must be addressed.<br /><br />Rather than exclude residents with certain diagnoses from the use of power mobility, which may be considered risk management that is prejudicial, the majority of participants opted to adopt a teleological approach and allow all residents to test the power mobility device.<br /><br />Mobility<br /><br />A power mobility device enables people with limited ability to move around their home or community and take part in daily activities that would otherwise be impossible for them. However, these devices could also be a danger to the person using them as well as other individuals who are in their space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client before making recommendations regarding powered mobility.<br /><br />In an exploratory study carried out by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to determine their use of power mobility. The goal was to create an environment that allowed for client-centred power movement prescribing. The results revealed four major themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags concerning safety, and (4) solutions.<br /><br />Power mobility can greatly improve the quality of life for people who are mobility-challenged by allowing them to participate in a range of daily life activities, both at home and in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is vital for physical and mental health of older adults, and for a lot of people with chronic illnesses power mobility can be an opportunity to continue taking part in these important activities.<br /><br />Participants found it unacceptable to remove a resident's wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life's narrative and direction and stop them from performing the same activities that they had prior to their illness advanced. This was particularly relevant for those in the Facility 1 who were only in a position to use their power chair for a brief period and were now dependent on others to push them.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.mymobilityscooters.uk/brands/green-power">powered mobility scooter</a> would be to limit the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However this could cause various issues like privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to get rid of a resident's wheelchair.<br /><br />Safety<br /><br />Power mobility lets people move more freely. They can also participate in a wider range of activities, as well as do around on their own. With the increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. These accidents can cause serious injuries for a few. It is important to think about the safety of your clients prior to recommending power mobility.<br /><br />First check whether your client is able to safely use their power chair or scooter. This could include a physical assessment 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, your client will need a lift for their vehicle to be able to load and unload the mobility device at their workplace, home, or community.<br /><br />Learning the rules of road safety is an additional aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other wheelchair users, pedestrians and the drivers of cars or buses. This was a theme that was mentioned by the majority of participants in the study.<br /><br />Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving in the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was made to be used in this way). Others drove slower and looked out for pedestrians in a crowd.<br /><br />The last and least popular option was taking away the chair of a person, which was viewed as a two-fold penalty that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facility and community activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who had their chairs taken away.<br /><br />Other ideas suggested by participants included educating other residents, family members and staff about the safety of power mobility. This could include teaching the fundamentals of driving (such as driving on the right side of the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving strategies when they go out and helping them to understand how their actions can affect other people's mobility.<br /><br />Follow-Up<br /><br />A power mobility device can have a profound impact on a child's ability to function and take part in life. There is little research on the experiences children experience when they learn to use these devices. This study employs the pre-post method to investigate the impact of six months of use with one of four early power mobility devices on children in the school age group with severe cerebral palsy (CP).<br /><br />Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents and pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first, 'Power in Mobility,' described how the use of a powered device changed more than just the motor skills. The experience of learning to operate a powered mobility device can be an emotional and transformative one.<br /><br />The second theme, 'There's not a recipe book,' showed that learning to use a power mobility device was a bespoke process that developed over time in a cyclical manner. Therapists were required to determine what was realistic in light of the child's capabilities and needs. In the post-training and training phases, therapists were also required to be patient with children and parents. Many parents and therapists mentioned the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve issues that arise during the training process.<br /><br /><br /><br />The third theme, "Shared space", examined 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 be mindful when using a power mobility device. This is especially important when driving in public spaces. Several participants also noted that they've had to deal with situations in which someone else's property was damaged due to the use of the power mobility device or when a person was injured by a driver who not yielded the right-of-way.<br /><br />The results of this study show that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be done in specific classroom settings. Future research should continue to investigate the effects of training and results of this kind of intervention with young children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standardized training protocols for children suffering from CP.<br /><br />