Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility enhances participation in daily activities and activities for people who are in long-term care. These devices also raise security concerns that need to be addressed.
Rather than exclude residents with certain diagnoses from the power mobility option that could be considered risk management that is prejudicial, the majority of participants chose to take the teleological approach and allow all residents to test the device.
Mobility
A power mobility device enables people who are disabled to move about their community or home and engage in daily activities that are otherwise impossible for them. However, these devices can also pose a risk to the person using them, as well as other individuals who are in their space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations on 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 about their power mobility use. green power was to create a framework for client-centered power mobility prescribing. The findings revealed four main themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags safety concerns, and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can dramatically improve the quality of life for people who are mobility-challenged by permitting them to take part in a variety of daily living activities both at home and in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, productive and leisure activities are essential to the mental and physical health of older adults. For many with progressive diseases, power mobilty can be a means to participate in these essential activities.
The majority of participants felt it was unacceptable to remove a resident's chair, as this would cause a major disruption in their life story or path and prevent them from continuing with the same activities that they had been doing before their disease progression. This was especially relevant to those in the facility 1, who had been capable of maintaining their chairs for short durations and were dependent on others to help them move around the facility.
Another option is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, but this raised a number of concerns, including privacy concerns 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 those with disabilities to get around 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 accidents could result in serious injuries for a few. This is why it is crucial to consider the security of your client before suggesting they use a power mobility.
First check whether your client is able to safely operate their power chair or scooter. Depending on the nature of their impairment and the condition of their current health, this might require a physical examination by an occupational or physician therapist, as well as an interview with a mobility specialist to determine whether a specific device would be appropriate for them. In some instances, a vehicle lift will be required to make it possible for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home or in the community at work.
Another aspect of safety is to learn the rules of the road. green power includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. Most participants in the study discussed this topic.
For some this, it required learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through busy areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do so). Others drove more cautiously and paid attention to pedestrians in an area that was crowded.
The last and least preferred option, which was to remove the wheelchair of a person was seen as a double whammy that would result in the loss of mobility, and also preventing them from taking part in the activities of the community and facilities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who had their chairs removed.
The participants also suggested that residents, family members, and staff members be educated on the safe use 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 skills while out, and helping them understand how their behavior can influence other people's mobility.
Follow-Up
A device that is powered by electricity can have a profound impact on the ability of a child to function and take part in life. There has been little research on 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 six months of experience using one of four early power mobility devices on children in the school age group with severe cerebral palsy (CP).
We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents, as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first theme, 'Power to move', described the ways that using a powered device affected more than just motor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device was often a transformative, emotionally charged journey for the participants.
The second theme 'There's no recipe book' showed that learning to make use of an equipment for mobility was a process that unfolded in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were required to discover what was appropriate for each child's needs and capabilities. In the initial phase of training and following, therapists were required to be patient with children and parents. Many parents and therapists mentioned a need to help families celebrate successes and problem-solve issues that arise during the process of training.
Finally, the third theme, 'Shared space was a look at the ways in which using a power device could have an impact on the lives of others and how they interact. The majority of those who participated in this study believed a person must be mindful of other people when using their mobility device. This was especially relevant when driving on public roads. Participants also mentioned that they had seen situations in which property belonging to someone else had been damaged by the use of a power mobility device, or a person has suffered injuries from a driver who didn't yield the right of way.
Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training is feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. Future research should continue to investigate the training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standard training protocols for children who have CP.