Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility can enhance participation in daily activities and recreational pursuits for individuals in long term care. However, the devices can also cause safety issues that must be addressed.
The majority of participants opt to adopt a teleological view and give all residents the chance to test a device, rather than exclude residents with specific diagnoses, which could be considered a risk management decision that is prejudicial.
Mobility
A power mobility device is a way for people who are unable to move about their home or community and also to take part in daily activities that they might not otherwise be able to perform. These devices can cause danger not only for the person who uses them, but also to other people who share their space or environment. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client before making recommendations on 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 the extent to which they used power mobility. The objective 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: concerns about safety and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can enhance the quality of life for people with mobility limitations. address here is due to the fact that it allows them to take part in daily activities at home and within the community. Self-care, productive and leisure jobs are essential for the mental and physical health of the elderly. For those suffering from progressive diseases, power mobilty can be a means to participate in these essential activities.
Participants found it unacceptable to remove a resident's wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life's narrative and direction and stop them from performing the same things that they were doing before their condition progressed. This was especially applicable to those in the Facility 1 who were only allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and were now reliant on others to push them.
Another potential solution was reducing the speed at which residents drove their chairs, but this raised a number of issues such as privacy concerns and impact on other people in the community. Ultimately, removing the chair of a resident was thought to be the most drastic and least desired solution to safety concerns.
Safety
Power mobility allows disabled people to get around more freely and take part in a wider range of activities and do around. With greater mobility comes a higher chance of accidents. For some, these accidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. It is crucial to consider the safety of your clients before recommending power mobility.
greenpower electric scooters in assessing security is to determine if your client can safely operate their scooter or power wheelchair. This could involve a physical assessment by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's disability and their current health. In certain situations, your client will need an automobile lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at home, workplace or community.
Learning the rules of road safety is another aspect of safety. This includes sharing space, with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and drivers of buses or cars. Most participants in the study have mentioned this issue.
Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through crowded areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was made to be used in this way). For others it meant driving slowly in a busy environment and watching out for people walking.
The final and least preferred option was to remove a person's chair, which was viewed as a two-fold penalty that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facility and community activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among the participants who had their chairs removed.
Other suggestions made by participants included educating residents, family members and staff about the safety of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as the right side to walk on in a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave, and helping them understand how their behavior affects other people's mobility.
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 isn't much research on the experience that children have when learning to utilize these devices. This study uses a post-previous design to examine the effects of 6 months of experience with one of the four early mobility devices on a school-aged group of children who suffer from severe cerebral palsy (CP).
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric 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 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 such thing as a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to utilize a power mobility device was an individual process that evolved over time in a cycle. Therapists were asked to decide what was appropriate in light of the child's capabilities and needs. Through the training and post-training phases, therapists were required to have patience with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to assist families celebrate their achievements and solve problems associated with the training process.
The third theme, "Shared space", examined how the use of an electric device can affect other people's lives and interactions. The majority of those who participated in this study believed that one must be mindful of other users when using a mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public spaces. Many participants also reported that they've had to deal with situations where someone else's property was damaged through the use of a power mobility device, or when a person was injured by a driver who failed to yield the right-of-way.
The results of this study suggest that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be done in specific classroom environments. Future research should continue to study the training and results for this type of intervention in young children with CP. This could lead to the development of more uniform training protocols for this group.