Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility enhances participation in daily activities as well as recreational pursuits for individuals who are in long-term care. The devices can also create safety concerns, which must be addressed.
The majority of participants opt to adopt a teleological view and allow all residents the chance to test devices, not to exclude residents with specific diagnosis that could be viewed as a prejudicial risk management.
Mobility
A power mobility device is a way for people with limited mobility to move around in their community or home, and also to take part in daily activities that they would not be able to perform. However, these devices can also pose a risk for the person using them, and other people who share their space or space. power mobility scooter must be aware of the safety needs of each client prior to making recommendations regarding powered mobility.
In an exploratory study (von Zweck, 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities in Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents regarding their power mobility use. The objective was to establish a framework that would allow the use of power mobility that is centered on the needs of the client. 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 significantly increase quality of life for individuals who are mobility-challenged by giving them the opportunity to participate in a variety of daily life activities, at home as well as in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is essential for physical and mental health of older adults, and for many people who are suffering from progressive illnesses power mobility is the opportunity to keep participating in these important activities.
The participants felt it was inconvenient to take away a wheelchair in order to alter their life story and trajectory, and prevent them from doing the same things they had prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly the case for those in Facility 1 who were in a position to use their power chairs for brief periods of time, but were dependent on others to move them around the facility.
Another option is to reduce the speed at which residents drove their chairs, however this raised a number of issues such as privacy concerns and the impact on other residents in the community. Ultimately, removing the chair of a resident was deemed the most drastic and least desirable solution to safety concerns.
Safety
Power mobility allows people to move around more freely. They can also take part in a wider range of activities, and complete errands. With the increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. For some, these accidents can cause serious injuries to themselves and others. This is why it is crucial to consider the security of your client before recommending that they utilize power mobility.
First, determine if your client is able to safely use their scooter or power chair. Depending on their disability and the state of their health, this could require a physical examination by an occupational or physician therapist, as well as a discussion with a mobility expert to determine if a specific device is suitable for them. In some instances, a vehicle lift will be required to make it possible for your client to load and unload their mobility device at home or in the community at work.
Another aspect of safety is knowing the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and bus drivers. A majority of the participants mentioned this theme.
Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving in busy areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was 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 alternative was to take away the chair of a person, which was viewed as a two-fold penalty: losing independent mobility and preventing access to facilities and community activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who were stripped of their chairs.
Other ideas suggested by participants included educating other residents staff, family members and other residents on the safe operation of power mobility. This could include teaching driving basics (such as the correct side to walk on in the hallway), encouraging the residents to practice driving skills while outside and assisting them to recognize how their behavior affects the mobility of others.
Follow-Up
The capacity and willingness of a child to take part in the world can be greatly affected by a device for power mobility. There is little research into the experiences children experience when they learn to use these devices. 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 school-aged group of children with severe cerebral Palsy (CP).
We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three major themes. The first, 'Power and mobility explained the ways in which powered devices changed more than just a child's locomotor abilities. The process of learning to drive a motorized mobility device is often an emotional and transformative experience.
The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' showed that learning to utilize a mobility device was a process that took place in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were charged with determining the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and abilities. In the initial phase of training and after, therapists had to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike emphasized the need to assist families celebrate their achievements and solve problems associated with 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 the participants in this study felt that one must always be considerate of other users when using a mobility device. This is especially relevant when driving on roads that are public. Participants also said that they've seen instances where property of someone else's was damaged due to the use of a power mobility device or an individual had suffered injuries from a driver who did not yield the right of way.
Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training appears feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children with CP.