Notes

A An Overview Of Power Mobility From Start To Finish
Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as activities for people in long term care. These devices also raise security concerns that need to be addressed.

Most participants chose to adopt a teleological view and provide all residents with the chance to try 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 provides an option for those who are unable to move around their home or community, and to participate in everyday activities that they might not otherwise be able to perform. However, these devices may also pose a risk to the person using them, as well as other individuals who are in their space. Occupational therapists need to carefully examine each client's safety requirements to provide the most appropriate recommendations for powered mobility.

In a study that was conducted by OTs at three residential facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their use of power mobility. look at this site was to create a framework that would allow for client-centred power movement prescribing. The results revealed four major themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags security concerns and (4) solutions.

Power mobility can enhance the quality of life for individuals who have mobility limitations. This is due to the fact that it lets them participate in daily activities at home and in the community. Self-care, productive and recreational activities are essential to the mental and physical health of the elderly. For many with chronic illnesses, power mobility can be a means to participate in these vital activities.

The majority of participants felt it was unacceptable to remove the resident's chair since it would result in a significant change in their life or path and prevent them from continuing with the same activities they used to do prior to their disease progression. This was particularly relevant for those in Facility 1 who had been allowed to use their power chairs for a short time and now relied on others to push them.

Another solution would be to slow down the speed at which some residents drive their chairs. However this could cause several issues, including privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. In the end, removing the chair of a resident was thought to be the most drastic and least desirable solution to security concerns.

Safety

Power mobility lets people move around more freely. They can also participate in a wider range of activities, and complete the errands. However, with greater freedom of movement comes a higher risk of accidents. For some, these incidents can cause serious injuries to themselves or others. This is why it is crucial to think about the security of your client before recommending that they utilize power mobility.

The first step in assessing safety is to determine if your client is safe to operate their scooter or power wheelchair. This may include a physical assessment by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's impairment and their current health. In some instances the use of a vehicle lift may be necessary to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or at work.


Understanding the rules of road safety is an additional aspect of safety. 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.

For some, this meant learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through areas that were crowded or over curbs (unless specifically designed for doing such). For others it meant driving cautiously in a noisy environment and keeping an eye out for people walking.

The last and least popular alternative was to take away the chair of a person. This was seen as two-fold punishment: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facilities and community activities. This was the viewpoint of the majority of those who were able to remove their chairs among them Diane and Harriet.

Other ideas suggested by the participants included educating other residents, family members and staff on the proper operation of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as driving on the right side of a hallway), encouraging residents to practice driving techniques when they go out and assisting them in understanding how their actions can affect other people's mobility.

Follow-Up

The capacity and willingness of a child to take part in the world can be profoundly affected by a device for power mobility. However, very little research has been conducted about the experience of children who learn to use this device. This study uses the post-previous method to analyze the effects of six months of experience with one of four early mobility devices on a school-aged group of children suffering from severe cerebral Palsy (CP).

We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents, and also occupational and physical therapists for children. Thematic analysis identified three major themes. The first theme, 'Power to move', described how using the power of a device affected more than just the child's locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a mobility device can be an emotional, transformative journey for the participants.

The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' revealed that learning to make use of an equipment for mobility was a process that developed in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were tasked with unearthing the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and abilities. Through the training and post-training phases, therapists were also required to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to assist families celebrate their accomplishments and resolve issues that arise from the training process.

The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of a power device can impact the lives of others. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should be mindful when using a device that is powered by electricity. This was especially true when driving in public spaces. Participants also shared that they've witnessed situations in which property belonging to someone else 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.

The results of this study show that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in a variety of classroom settings. Future research should continue to investigate the training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in young children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children with CP.

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