Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility allows people who are in long-term care in their routine activities and leisure pursuits. However, the devices can also create safety concerns that must be addressed.
Most participants chose to adopt a teleological perspective and give all residents the opportunity to test a device, rather than exclude those with specific diagnosis that could be viewed as a prejudicial risk management.
Mobility
A power mobility device allows those with limited ability to move about their community or home and participate in daily living activities that would otherwise be impossible for them. However, these devices could also be a danger to the person using them and also to other people who share their space or space. Therapists in occupational therapy must examine each client's safety requirements to provide the most appropriate recommendations regarding powered mobility.
In an exploratory study (von Zweck 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities in Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents regarding their use of power mobility. The objective was to develop a framework for client-centred power mobility prescribing. The results 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 greatly improve the quality of life for individuals who have limited mobility, giving them the opportunity to participate in a variety of everyday living activities, both at home and in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care or leisure activities, as well as productive ones is essential to mental and physical health of older adults, and for those with chronic illnesses power mobility can be an opportunity to continue taking part in these important activities.
Many participants considered it not acceptable to remove the resident's chair since this would cause a major disruption in their life story or course of action, and ultimately stop them from continuing to engage in the same activities they had been doing before their illness progressed. This was particularly the case for those in Facility 1, who had been able to maintain their power chairs for short periods of time and were dependent 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 raise a number issues such as privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. Ultimately, removing the chair of a resident was deemed the most drastic and least desired solution to security concerns.
Safety
Power mobility allows people to move around more freely. They are also able to participate in a broader range of activities, as well as complete the errands. However, with increased mobility comes a greater chance of accidents. For some, these accidents could result in serious injuries to themselves and others. This is why it is crucial to think about the safety of your client prior to recommending that they use a power mobility.
First check whether your client is able to safely operate their power chair or scooter. click here could involve an examination of the physical by a physician or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's disability and their current health. In some cases, a vehicle lift will be required to make it possible for your client to load and unload their mobility device at home or in the community at work.
Another aspect of safety is to learn the rules of the road. This includes sharing space, with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and drivers of cars or buses. Most participants in the study discussed this topic.
For some this, it meant learning to use 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 cautiously in a noisy environment and watching out for people walking.
The final and least popular option of removing the wheelchair of a person, was viewed as a double-punishment: losing independence in mobility and preventing the person from participating in activities with the community or at facilities. Diane and Harriet among others were among those who were stripped of their chairs.
Other solutions that were suggested by participants included educating other residents staff, family members and other residents on the safe operation of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the basics of driving (such as using the right side of a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving strategies when they leave and assisting them in understanding how their behavior can influence the mobility of others.
Follow-Up
A device that is powered by electricity can significantly impact a child's ability to function and take part in life. There isn't much research into the experiences children have when learning to utilize these devices. This study employs a post-previous design to examine the effects of 6 months of use with one of four early mobility devices on a group of school-aged children of children suffering from severe cerebral palsy (CP).
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first, 'Power and mobility,' explained the ways in which powered devices affected more than just the locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a mobility device can be an emotional, transformative journey for the participants.
The second theme, 'There's not a cookbook,' revealed that learning to use the power mobility device was an individual process that unfolded over time in a cycle. Therapists were charged with determining what was appropriate for each child's needs and abilities. Through the training and post-training phases, therapists were also required to be patient with children and parents. Parents and therapists alike described the need to help families celebrate their achievements and address issues related to the training process.
The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of a power device can impact other people's interactions and lives. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should always be considerate when using a power device. This was particularly relevant when driving on roads that are public. A few participants also mentioned that they've had to deal with instances where another's property was damaged by the use of the power mobility device or in which an individual was injured due to a driver who failed to yield right-of-way.
The results of this study suggest that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in a variety of classroom settings. The next research study should examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this kind of intervention for children with CP. This should hopefully result in the development of more standard training protocols for this population.