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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility enhances participation in daily activities as well as activities for people who are in long-term care. The devices can also create security concerns that need to be addressed.

Instead of excluding residents who have certain diagnoses from use of power mobility as it could be viewed as risk management prejudicial, most participants opted to adopt an approach based on teleology and allow all residents to try out the device.

Mobility

A power mobility device provides a method for people who are unable to move about their home or community, and also to take part in activities of daily living that they may not be able to do. These devices can pose a risk not only for the person who uses them but also to others who share their space or surroundings. Therapists in occupational therapy must evaluate the safety needs of each client to make the best suggestions regarding powered mobility.

In an exploratory study carried out by OTs in three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to assess the extent to which they used power mobility. The aim was to develop 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.

Power mobility can significantly increase quality of life for individuals who have limited mobility, giving them the opportunity to participate in a variety of daily living activities, at home as well as in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is essential to mental and physical health for older adults, and for a lot of people who are suffering from progressive illnesses power mobility can be a way to continue participating in these vital activities.

It was considered unacceptable by the participants to remove a resident's wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life story and trajectory and hinder them from doing the same activities that they were doing before their condition advanced. This was especially the case for those in Facility 1 who were in a position to use their power chairs for brief periods of time and were forced to rely on other residents to push them around the facility.

Another solution would be to slow down the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However it could create 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 more freely and green energy Mobility scooters participate in a greater variety of activities, and even complete the errands. However, with increased freedom of movement comes a greater risk for accidents. These accidents could result in serious injuries for some. It is important to consider the security of your clients prior to recommending the use of power mobility.

First consider determining whether your client is able to safely use their power chair or scooter green power. Based on the severity of their disability and current health, this may involve a physical evaluation by a physician or occupational therapist, or having a conversation with a mobility specialist to determine if a specific device would be appropriate for them. In some cases it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be necessary to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or at work.

Learning the rules of road safety is a further aspect of safety. This involves sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. A majority of the participants discussed this topic.

For some it meant learning to use their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through areas that were crowded or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do such). Others drove slower and looked out for pedestrians in an area that was crowded.

The final and least popular option of removing a person's wheelchair, 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 viewpoint of the majority of those who had their chairs removed among them Diane and Harriet.

Participants also suggested that family members, and staff be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the fundamentals of driving (such as using the right side of a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills while out, and helping them to understand how their behavior can influence the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

A device that is powered by electricity can have a profound impact on the ability of a child to function and be a part of life. There has been little research on the experience that children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study employs an approach that is pre-post to study the impact of six months' experience with one of four early power mobility devices on children in the school age group with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes. The first theme, 'Power for mobility', described how the use of an greenpower electric scooters device impacted more than just the child's locomotor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device was often an emotional and transformative experience for those who participated.

The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' showed that the process of learning to make use of a mobility device was a process that developed in a continuous manner over time. Therapists were charged with determining the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and capabilities. Through the training and post-training phases, therapists were expected to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike emphasized the need to help families celebrate their successes and address issues related to the process of training.

The third theme, "Shared space", examined how the use of the green power scooter device can affect the lives of others. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should be considerate when using a device that is powered by electricity. This was particularly applicable when driving on public roads. Participants also mentioned that they've seen instances in which property belonging to someone else had been damaged by the use of a power mobility device or a person had been injured by a motorist who did not yield the right of way.

The results of this study show that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be carried out in specific classroom environments. Future research should continue to study the training and results for this kind of intervention in children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children who have CP.