Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as recreation for those in long-term care. However, the devices could also pose safety risks that must be addressed.
The majority of participants opt to adopt a teleological perspective and provide all residents with the chance to test the device, instead of exclude those with specific diagnosis that could be viewed as a risk management decision that is prejudicial.
Mobility
A power mobility device provides a method for people with limited mobility to move around their home or community and to participate in activities of daily living that they might not otherwise be able to perform. greenpower scooter can be a danger not just to the person using them, but also to other people who share their space or surroundings. Occupational therapists need to carefully examine each client's safety requirements to make the most appropriate recommendations regarding powered mobility.
In an exploratory study (von Zweck 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities within the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their power mobility use. green power scooters was to develop a framework for client-centred power mobility 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.
Power mobility can dramatically improve the quality of life for people who have limited mobility, allowing them to participate in a range of daily living activities both at home and in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care or leisure activities, as well as productive ones is crucial to mental and physical health of older adults, and for many people with progressive diseases power mobility is an opportunity to continue taking part in these important activities.
It was considered unacceptable by the participants to remove a resident's wheelchair because it would alter their life story and trajectory and stop them from doing the same things they did before their disease progressed. This was especially true for those in the Facility 1, who had been in a position to use their power chairs for brief periods of time and were forced to rely on other residents to move them around the facility.
Another option is to reduce the speed at which residents drove their chairs, but this could have raised issues, such as a lack of privacy and impact on other people in the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away the wheelchair of a resident.
Safety
Power mobility lets people move more freely. They are also able to participate in a wider range of activities and do errands. However, with greater freedom of movement comes a greater risk for accidents. For some, these accidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. It is crucial to consider the security of your clients prior to suggesting power mobility.
The first step in determining safety is to determine whether your client is safe to operate their scooter or power wheelchair. Based on the nature of their disability and the state of their health, this could require a physical examination by a physician or occupational therapist, or having a conversation with a mobility expert to determine if 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 in the community, or at work.
Another aspect of safety is learning the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. This was a theme that was mentioned by the majority of participants in the study.
Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving through busy areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was made for this). For others this meant driving more slow in a crowded area and keeping an eye out for pedestrians.
The last and least popular alternative was to take away the chair of a person, which was seen as two-fold punishment that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facility and community activities. This was the opinion of the majority of participants who had their chairs removed and included Diane and Harriet.
Other solutions that were suggested by participants included educating other residents staff, family members and other residents on the proper operation of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as the right side to walk on in the hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving when they leave and helping them be aware of how their actions affect the mobility of other people.
Follow-Up
The ability of a child and their willingness to take part in the world can be profoundly affected by a power mobility device. However, very little research has been conducted about the experience of children learning to use this equipment. This study uses a post-previous design to examine the effects of six months of use with one of the four early mobility devices on a group of school-aged children of children suffering from severe cerebral Palsy (CP).
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents and pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first theme, 'Power to move The theme described how using the power of a device affected more than just locomotor skills. The experience of learning how to operate a powered mobility device is usually an emotional and transformative one.
The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' revealed that learning how to make use of the mobility device was a process that developed in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were required to determine what was realistic based on each child's abilities and requirements. During the training phase, and after, therapists had to be patient with children and parents. Parents and therapists alike described the need to help families celebrate their achievements and solve problems associated with the training process.
Finally, the third theme"Shared space was a look at the ways in which using an electric device can influence the lives of other people and their interactions. The majority of participants in this study felt that one must be mindful of other people when using their mobility device. This was especially true when driving in public spaces. Participants also said that they've seen instances in which property belonging to someone else had been damaged by the use a power mobility device or an individual had suffered injuries from a driver who didn't yield the right of way.
The results of this study show that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be carried out in a variety of classroom environments. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this type of intervention for children with CP. This could lead to more standard training protocols for children suffering from CP.