Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility allows those who are in long-term care in their everyday activities and leisure activities. However, the devices could also pose safety risks which need to be addressed.

The majority of participants opt to adopt a teleological perspective and provide all residents with the chance to try a device, rather than exclude residents with specific diagnosis, which could be considered an unfair risk management.

Mobility

A power mobility device is a method for people with limited mobility to move around in their home or community and also to take part in everyday activities that they would not be able to do. These devices could be a danger not just for the person who uses them but also to others who share their space or the space. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations on powered mobility.

In a study that was conducted by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to assess their power mobility use. The objective was to develop an approach to 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 limited mobility. This is due to the fact that it lets them participate in everyday activities at home and within the community. Self-care, productive and leisure jobs are essential for the mental and physical health of older adults. 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 a resident's chair, as it would result in a significant interruption to their life or path and prevent them from pursuing the same activities that they were doing prior to their disease progression. This was particularly relevant for those in the Facility 1 who had been able use their power chairs for a short period of time and now relied on others to push them.

Another option is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, however this could have raised 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 people to move more easily. They are also able to participate in a broader range of activities, as well as run around on their own. With the increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for some. This is why it is crucial to think about the safety of your client before suggesting that they utilize power mobility.

The first step in assessing security is to determine if your client can safely operate their scooter or power wheelchair. Based on the severity of their impairment and the condition of their current health, this might involve a physical evaluation by an occupational or physician therapist, as well as a discussion with a mobility expert to determine if a specific device would be appropriate for them. In certain situations it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be required 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 a further aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and drivers of cars or buses. green power mobility was mentioned by most participants in the study.

Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving in crowded areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specially made for this purpose). For others, it meant driving more cautiously in a noisy environment and keeping an eye out for pedestrians.

The final and least preferred option was to remove the chair of a person, which was viewed as a double punishment: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facilities and community activities. This was the opinion of most participants who had their chairs removed, including Diane and Harriet.

Participants also suggested that family members, and staff members be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the fundamentals of driving (such as using the right side of a hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving skills while out, and assisting them in understanding how their behavior affects the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

The capacity and willingness of a child to participate in life can be greatly affected by a device for power mobility. There has been little research on the experience that children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study uses the post-previous method to analyze the effects of 6 months of use with one of four early mobility devices on a school-aged group of children 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, 'Power and mobility explained the ways in which powered devices affected more than just locomotor abilities. The experience of learning to operate a powered mobility device is often an emotional and transformative experience.

green power mobility 'There's no cookbook' revealed that learning how to make use of a mobility device was a process that unfolded in a cyclical manner over time. The therapists were asked to decide what was appropriate depending on the individual's capabilities and needs. In the initial phase of training and following, therapists were required to be patient with children as well as parents. Several parents and therapists described the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve issues that arise during the training process.

The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of a power device can impact other people's interactions and lives. The majority of the participants in this study felt that people must always be considerate of other people when using their mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public areas. Participants also shared that they've seen instances in which property belonging to someone else was damaged due to the use a power mobility device, or a person has been injured by a driver who didn't yield the right of way.

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training is feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. The next research study should investigate the training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standard training protocols for children suffering from CP.