Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility can enhance participation in daily activities as well as recreation for those in long term care. The devices can also create security concerns that need to be addressed.
Most participants chose to adopt a teleological view and provide all residents with the chance to test a device, rather than exclude those with specific diagnoses, which could be considered a risk management decision that is prejudicial.
Mobility
A power mobility device enables people with limited ability to move about their home or community and participate in daily living activities that would otherwise be not accessible to them. These devices pose a risk not only to the person using them, but also to those who are in their environment. Occupational therapists need to carefully assess each client's safety needs to provide the most appropriate recommendations regarding powered mobility.
In greenpower electric scooters conducted 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 develop 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 improve the quality of life for people who have mobility limitations. This is because it lets them participate in everyday activities at home and in the community. Self-care, productive and recreational jobs are essential for the physical and mental health of older adults. For many who suffer from progressive diseases, power mobilty can be a means to participate in these vital activities.
It was considered unacceptable by the participants to take away a wheelchair because it would alter their life's narrative and direction and hinder them from engaging in the same things they did before their disease worsened. This was particularly relevant for those in Facility 1 who had been able use their power chairs for a brief period and now relied on others to push them.
Another option is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, but this led to a variety of issues such as privacy concerns and impact on other people in the community. In the end, taking away the chair of a resident was thought to be the most drastic and least desirable solution to security concerns.
Safety
Power mobility allows people to move more easily. They can also take part in a wider range of activities, as well as do errands. With greater mobility comes a higher risk of accidents. These accidents can cause serious injuries for certain. This is why it is important to consider the safety of your client before recommending that they utilize power mobility.
First consider determining if go green mobility scooters can safely operate their scooter or power chair. This may include 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, 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.
Another aspect of safety is learning the rules of the road. This includes sharing space, with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and the bus drivers. This was a theme that was mentioned by the majority of participants in the study.
Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving in busy areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specially designed for this purpose). Others drove more slowly and paid attention to pedestrians in an area that was crowded.
The final and least desired alternative was to take away the chair of a person, which was seen as two-fold punishment: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facilities and community activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who had their chairs removed.
The participants also suggested that family members, and staff be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could include teaching the fundamentals of driving (such as using the correct side of the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave and helping them understand how their behavior can influence other people's mobility.
Follow-Up
The capacity and willingness of a child to take part in the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. There is little research on the experiences children go through when they first learn to make use of these devices. This study employs a pre-post design to examine the impact of 6 months of experience with one of four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP).
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first, 'Power in mobility explained the ways in which a powered device changed more than just the motor skills. The experience of learning how to operate a powered mobility device is often an emotional and transformative one.
The second theme, 'There isn't a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to use a power mobility device was an individualized process that unfolded over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were required to decide what was appropriate based on each child's abilities and needs. During the training phase and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to help families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the process of training.
The third theme, "Shared space", examined how the use of the power device can affect other people's interactions and lives. The majority of participants in this study believed that it is important to be mindful when using a power mobility device. This was especially relevant when driving on roads that are public. Participants also mentioned that they've witnessed situations where someone else's property was damaged due to the use a power mobility device or a person had suffered injuries from a driver who failed to yield the right of way.
Overall, the findings 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 in young children with CP. This could result in the development of more standardized training protocols for this population.