Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility allows individuals who are in long-term care to take part in their everyday activities and leisure activities. However, the devices can also pose safety risks which need to be addressed.
Most participants chose to take a teleological approach and allow all residents the chance to test the device, instead of exclude those with specific diagnoses, which could be considered a prejudicial risk management.
Mobility
A power mobility device provides a method for people with limited mobility to move about their community or home, and also to take part in activities of daily living that they would not be able to do. However, these devices may also pose a risk for the person using them, and also to other people who share their space or space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety requirements of each client prior to making recommendations about 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 use of power mobility. The goal was to develop a framework for client-centered power mobility prescribing. The results revealed four major 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 of individuals who have limited mobility. This is due to the fact that it allows them to take part in daily activities at home as well as in the community. Self-care, active and recreational activities are essential to the physical and mental health of the elderly. For many with progressive diseases, power mobilty can be a means to participate in these vital activities.
Most participants found it unacceptable to remove a resident's chair, as it would result in a significant change in their life or trajectory and essentially prevent them from pursuing the same activities that they used to do prior to the progression of their illness. This was especially applicable to those in Facility 1 who had only been allowed to use their power chairs for a short time and were now dependent on others to push them.
Another option is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, but this could have raised concerns, including a lack of privacy and the impact on other residents in the community. Ultimately, removing a resident's chair was considered the most drastic and least desirable solution to security concerns.
Safety
Power mobility allows people with disabilities to get around more freely and participate in a greater range of activities and complete the errands. With increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. For some, these incidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. green power scooters is crucial to consider the security of your clients prior to suggesting the use of power mobility.
First consider determining whether your client can safely operate their power chair or scooter. This could include an examination of the physical by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In some instances your client may require a vehicle lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at their home, community or workplace.
Another aspect of safety is knowing the rules of the road. This involves sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. A majority of the participants discussed this topic.
Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving in the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was made for this). Others drove slower and paid attention to pedestrians in a crowded environment.
The final and least desired option was taking away a person's chair, which was seen as two-fold punishment: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facility and community activities. This was the opinion of most participants who were able to remove their chairs, including Diane and Harriet.
Other ideas suggested by participants included educating other residents staff, family members and other residents about the safety of power mobility. This could involve teaching the fundamentals of driving (such as using the correct side of the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving techniques when they go out and helping them to understand how their behavior affects the mobility of others.
Follow-Up
A device that is powered by electricity can have a profound impact on the child's ability to function and take part in life. There has been little research into the experiences children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study uses the pre-post method to investigate the impact of 6 months of experience using 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 and pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first, 'Power and mobility,' explained the ways in which a powered device changed more than just a child's locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a power mobility device can be an emotional and transformative journey for participants.
The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' revealed that the process of learning to use an equipment for mobility was a process that took place in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were asked to determine what was feasible in light of the child's capabilities and needs. During the training phase, and following, therapists were required to be patient with children and parents. Several parents and therapists described the need to assist families celebrate successes and problem-solve problems that arise from the process of training.
The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of the power device can affect other people's interactions and lives. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should be considerate when using a power device. This is particularly true when driving in public spaces. Several participants also noted that they've encountered situations in which someone else's property was damaged due to the use of a power mobility device, or when a person was injured by a driver who had not yielded right-of-way.
The results of this study suggest that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in a variety of classroom environments. Future research should continue to explore the effectiveness of training and outcomes of this type of intervention with young children with CP. This will hopefully lead to the development of more standardized training protocols for this population.