Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility allows people who are in long-term care to take part in their everyday activities and leisure pursuits. The devices can also create safety concerns, which must be addressed.
The majority of participants choose to adopt a teleological view and give all residents the chance to test the device, instead of exclude residents with specific 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 take part in daily activities that would otherwise be impossible for them. However, these devices can also pose a risk for the person using them as well as other individuals who share their environment or space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client prior to making recommendations about powered mobility.
In an exploratory study (von Zweck, 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their use of power mobility. The objective was to establish an environment that allowed the use of power mobility that is centered on the needs of the client. The results revealed four major themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags - safety concerns and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can enhance the quality of life of individuals who have mobility limitations. This is due to the fact that it allows them to participate in daily activities at home and within the community. Self-care, productive and leisure activities are essential to the mental and physical health of the elderly. For those suffering from advanced illnesses, power mobility allows them to take part in these important activities.
Most participants found it unacceptable to take away a resident's chair, as this would cause a major change in their life or path and prevent them from pursuing the same activities they were doing prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly applicable to those in the Facility 1 who had been in a position to use their power chair for a short time and now relied on others to push them.
Another option is to reduce the speed that residents drive their chairs. However, this could raise a number issues such as privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to get rid of a resident's wheelchair.
Safety
Power mobility allows disabled people to move more freely and participate in a greater variety of activities, and even complete around. With increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. These accidents can cause serious injuries for some. It is crucial to think about the safety of your clients prior to suggesting the use of power mobility.
First check if your client can safely operate their power chair or scooter. Based on the severity of their impairment and current health, this may require a physical examination by an occupational or physician therapist, or a discussion with a mobility specialist to determine whether a specific device would be appropriate for them. In certain situations it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be necessary to allow 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 an additional aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of cars or buses. This is a topic that was mentioned by most participants in the study.
For some, this required learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through busy areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do this). For others it meant driving slowly in a busy environment and keeping an eye out for people walking.
green mobility scooter and least preferred option that was to take away the wheelchair of a person, was viewed as a double whammy that would result in the loss of mobility and hindering the person from participating in community and facility activities. This was the view of the majority of participants who were able to remove their chairs among them Diane and Harriet.
The participants also suggested that residents, family members, and staff be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the fundamentals of driving (such as using the correct side of a hallway), encouraging residents to practice driving skills while out, and helping them understand how their behavior can influence the mobility of others.
Follow-Up
The ability of a child and their willingness to take part in the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. However, very little research has been conducted on the experiences of children learning to use this device. This study uses an approach that is post-previous to study 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).
We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents and also occupational and physical therapists for children. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first, 'Power and mobility explained how the use of powered devices affected more than just locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a power mobility device can be an emotional and transformative journey for the participants.
The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' showed that learning how to use the mobility device was a process that unfolded in a way that was cyclical over time. Therapists were asked to determine what was feasible in light of the child's capabilities and requirements. Throughout the training and post-training phases, therapists were also expected to be patient with children and parents. Parents and therapists alike described the need to help families celebrate their accomplishments and resolve issues that arise from the process of training.
Finally, the third theme"Shared space', explored how the use of devices that power us can affect the lives of others and how they interact. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should always be mindful when using a power device. This is especially important when driving in public spaces. A few participants also mentioned that they've encountered situations where someone else's property was damaged due to the use of an electric mobility device, or when a person was injured by a driver who failed to yield right-of-way.
The results of this study indicate that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be carried out in a variety of classroom settings. Future research should be focused on the training and outcomes of this kind of intervention for young children with CP. This could lead to the development of more uniform training protocols for this population.