Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as activities for people in long-term care. However, the devices can also cause safety issues which need to be addressed.
Most participants chose to adopt a teleological view and provide all residents with the chance to try devices, not to restrict residents with certain diagnoses which could be considered a prejudicial risk management.
Mobility
A power mobility device provides an option for those with limited mobility to move around in their home or community, and to participate in activities of daily living that they may not be able to participate in. These devices can cause danger not only to the person using them but also to others who share their space or the space. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety requirements of each client before making 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 about 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 results revealed four major themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags concern about safety and (4) solutions.
mobility power can enhance the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility. This is due to the fact that it lets them participate in everyday activities at home and in the community. Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is vital to mental and physical health of older adults, and for many people with progressive diseases power mobility can be an opportunity to continue taking part in these vital activities.
Participants found it unacceptable to remove a wheelchair from a resident's home in order to alter their life story and trajectory and hinder them from performing the same things that they were doing before their condition progressed. This was especially relevant for those in the Facility 1 who had been able use their power chairs for a short period of time and now relied on others to push them.
Another option is to limit the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However this could cause a number issues such as privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. In the end, taking away the chair of a resident was deemed the most drastic and least desired solution to safety concerns.
Safety
Power mobility allows disabled people 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. These accidents can cause serious injuries for some. This is why it is vital to consider the security of your client before suggesting they use a power mobility.
First check whether your client can safely operate their power chair or scooter. This may include an assessment of physical health by a doctor or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's impairment and their current health. In some cases your client may require a lift for their vehicle to be capable of loading and unloading the mobility device at their workplace, home, or community.
Another aspect of safety is knowing the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with pedestrians, other wheelchair users and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. This was a theme that was mentioned by a majority of participants in the study.
For some it meant learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through crowded areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do this). For others, it meant driving more slow in a crowded area and keeping an eye out for pedestrians.
The last and least preferred option that was to take away a person's wheelchair, was viewed as a double-punishment that would result in the loss of mobility and hindering them from taking part in community and facility activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who had their chairs removed.
Participants also suggested that family members, and staff be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could include teaching the fundamentals of driving (such as using the right side of the hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave and helping them understand how their actions can affect the mobility of others.
Follow-Up
A child's ability and willingness to take part in the world can be profoundly affected by a power mobility device. However, green power scooter reviews isn't much research about the experience of children who learn to use this equipment. This study uses a pre-post design to examine the impact of six months of use with 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 children's occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first theme, 'Power for mobility', described how the use of the power of a device affected more than just locomotor abilities. The experience of learning how to operate a powered mobility device is usually an emotional and transformative experience.
The second theme, 'There's not a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to utilize a power mobility device was an individual process that unfolded over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were asked to determine what was feasible based on each child's abilities and requirements. During the training phase and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children as well as parents. A number of parents and therapists emphasized the need to assist families celebrate their successes and work through issues that arise during the training process.
The third theme, "Shared space", examined how the use of a power device can impact other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study felt that people must be mindful of other users when using a mobility device. This is especially important when driving in public spaces. Participants also shared that they've seen instances in which property belonging to someone else was damaged due to the use of a motorized device, or a person has been injured by a motorist who failed to yield the right of way.
Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training appears feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. Future research should continue to examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in children with CP. This should hopefully lead to the development of more uniform training protocols for this group.