What Power Mobility You'll Use As Your Next Big Obsession

Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility enhances participation in daily activities and recreation for those in long term care. However, these devices can also cause safety issues which need to be addressed.

The majority of participants opt to take a teleological approach and allow all residents the chance to try the device, instead of restrict residents with certain diagnoses which could be considered a prejudicial risk management.

Mobility

A power mobility device allows people who are disabled to move about their homes or communities and engage in daily activities that would otherwise be impossible for them. However, these devices can also pose a risk to the person using them, as well as other individuals who are in their space. Therapists in occupational therapy must examine each client's safety requirements to make the best recommendations regarding powered mobility.

In an exploratory study (von Zweck, 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities within the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents regarding their power mobility use. The aim was to create an approach to client-centered power mobility prescribing.  electric wheel scooter  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 with mobility limitations. This is because it allows them to take part in everyday activities at home and in the community. Self-care, productive and recreational occupations are vital for mental and physical health of older adults. For many who suffer from progressive diseases, power mobilty offers a way to participate in these important activities.

Many participants considered it not acceptable to remove a resident's chair, as this would cause a major interruption to their life or trajectory and essentially prevent them from continuing to engage in the same activities they were doing prior to the progression of their illness. This was particularly true for those in Facility 1, who had been able to maintain their power chairs for short periods of time and were forced to rely on others to help them move around the facility.

Another option is to limit the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However this could cause several issues, including privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to remove the wheelchair of a resident.

Safety

Power mobility allows disabled people to move around more easily and participate in a greater variety of activities, and even complete the 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 crucial to consider the security of your clients prior to suggesting the use of power mobility.

The first step in assessing safety is to determine if your client can safely operate their power scooter or power chair. Depending on the severity of their disability and current health, this may require a physical examination by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a discussion with a mobility expert to determine if a specific device is suitable for them. In certain situations the use of a vehicle lift may be required to make it possible for your client to load and unload their mobility device at home in the community, or at work.

Knowing the rules of road safety is another aspect of safety. This involves sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. The majority of participants in the study have mentioned this issue.

For some it meant learning to use their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through crowded areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed for doing so). For others, it meant driving more slowly in a busy environment and keeping an eye out for pedestrians.

The last and least preferred option of removing a person's wheelchair, was seen as a double whammy as it would mean losing mobility and hindering them from participating in the activities of the community and facilities. This was the opinion of the majority of participants who were able to remove their chairs among them Diane and Harriet.

Other solutions that were suggested by the participants included educating other residents, family members and staff on the proper operation of power mobility. This could include teaching driving basics (such as the right side to walk on in a hallway), encouraging the residents to practice driving techniques when they leave and helping them be aware of how their actions affect the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

A child's ability and willingness to take part in the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. However, little research has been conducted on the experiences of children who learn to use this device. This study employs an approach that is post-previous to study 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 interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents and also occupational and physical therapists for children. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first, 'Power in mobility,' described how the use of powered devices affected more than just the locomotor abilities. The process of learning to drive a motorized mobility device is often an emotional and transformative experience.

The second theme, 'There's not a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to utilize the power mobility device was an individual process that developed over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were required to determine what was feasible in light of the child's capabilities and needs. In the initial phase of training and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to assist families celebrate their accomplishments and resolve issues that arise from the process of training.

The third theme, "Shared space", explored how the use the power device can affect other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should always be considerate when using a power mobility device. This was particularly true when driving on public roads. Participants also mentioned that they've witnessed situations where property of someone else's had been damaged by the use of a motorized device or an individual had suffered injuries from a driver who failed to yield the right of way.

The results of this study indicate that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in a variety of classroom environments. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this type of intervention for children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standard training protocols for children with CP.