Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility allows those who are in long-term care in their routine activities and leisure activities. However, the devices can also create safety concerns which need to be addressed.
Most participants chose to adopt a teleological perspective and allow all residents the opportunity to test the device, instead of exclude residents with specific diagnosis that could be viewed as a prejudicial risk management.
Mobility
A power mobility device is a way for people who are unable to move around in their home or community and to participate in daily activities that they may not be able to participate in. These devices can be a danger not just to the person using them, but also to those who share their space or surroundings. Therapists in occupational therapy must evaluate the safety needs of each client to provide the most appropriate recommendations for 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 goal was to develop an approach to client-centered power mobility prescribing. The findings revealed four main themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags concern about safety and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can boost the quality of life of people who have limited mobility. This is because it allows them to participate in daily activities at home and in the community. Self-care, productive and recreational occupations are vital for physical and mental health of the elderly. For many who suffer from progressive diseases, power mobilty offers a way to participate in these important activities.
The majority of participants felt it was not acceptable to remove the resident's chair since 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 their illness progressed. This was particularly applicable to those in the Facility 1 who were only in a position to use their power chair for a brief period and were now reliant on others to push them.
Another possible solution is to limit the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, however this raised a number of concerns, including a lack of privacy and impact on other people in the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to remove a resident's wheelchair.
Safety
Power mobility allows disabled people to get around more freely and take part in a wider variety of activities, and even complete errands. With greater mobility comes a higher chance of accidents. For some, these incidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. It is important to consider the security of your clients prior to recommending power mobility.
The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client is safe to operate their scooter or power wheelchair. Depending on their disability and the state of their health, this could require a physical examination by a doctor or occupational therapist, and an interview with a mobility specialist to determine if a specific device is appropriate for them. In certain situations, your client will need an automobile lift to be able to load and unload the device at their home, workplace or community.
Another aspect of safety is to learn the rules of the road. This includes sharing space, with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and the bus drivers. This topic was mentioned by a majority of participants in the study.
Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving in crowded areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specially designed for this purpose). Others drove more slowly and kept an eye out for pedestrians in a crowd.
The final and least preferred option was taking away the chair of a person, which was viewed as a double punishment loss of mobility independent and preventing access to facilities and community activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who had their chairs taken away.
Participants also suggested that family members, and staff members be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as the correct side to walk on in a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave, and helping them be aware of how their actions affect other people's mobility.
Follow-Up
A device that is powered by electricity can significantly impact the child's ability to function and be a part of life. However, very there isn't much research on the experience of children who learn to use this equipment. This study uses the post-previous method to analyze the effects of 6 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 children's occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first, 'Power in mobility,' described the ways in which powered devices affected more than just a child's motor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device can be an emotional and transformative experience for those who participated.
The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' showed that learning to make use of a mobility device was a process that took place in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were asked to determine what was realistic based on each child's abilities and needs. Through the training and post-training phases, therapists were required to have patience with children and parents. Several parents and therapists described the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve issues that arise during the process of training.
The third theme, "Shared space", explored how the use a power device can impact other people's lives and interactions. The majority of those who participated in this study believed people should always show consideration for others when using their power mobility device. mobility power scooters was especially true when driving in public areas. A few participants also mentioned that they've encountered situations where someone else's property was damaged by the use of the power mobility device or where a person was injured due to a driver who not yielded right-of-way.
Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training is possible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to investigate the training and outcomes for this type of intervention for children with CP. This should hopefully result in the development of more standardized training protocols for this group.