Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as recreation for those who are in long-term care. However, the devices can also pose safety risks that need to be addressed.

Rather than exclude residents with certain diagnoses from the power mobility option, which may be considered prejudicial risk management, most participants preferred to take a teleological approach and let everyone test the device.

Mobility

A power mobility device provides an option for those who are unable to move about their home or community and also to take part in activities of daily living that they would not be able to participate in. However, these devices could also pose a risk to the person using them, and other people who share their space or space. Occupational therapists must carefully assess each client's safety needs to make the best suggestions regarding powered mobility.

In an exploratory study conducted by OTs at three residential facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their power mobility use. The goal was to create an environment that allowed for a client-centered power movement prescription. 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 dramatically improve the quality of life for those with limited mobility by permitting them to take part in a variety of daily life activities, at home as well as in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care as well as leisure and productive occupations is vital to mental and physical health for older adults, and for many people who are suffering from progressive illnesses power mobility can be the opportunity to keep participating in these vital activities.

Participants found it unacceptable to remove a wheelchair from a resident's home, as this would disrupt their life story and trajectory and stop them from doing the same activities that they did before their disease worsened. This was especially relevant for those in Facility 1 who were only in a position to use their power chair for a short period of time and were now reliant on others to push them.

Another potential solution was reducing the speed at which residents drove their chairs, however this raised a number of concerns, including privacy concerns and the impact on other residents in the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to get rid of the wheelchair of a resident.

Safety

Power mobility lets people move more easily. They can also take part in a broader range of activities, and run the errands. With greater mobility comes a higher risk of accidents. These accidents could result in serious injuries for a few. This is why it is important to think about the safety of your client prior to suggesting they utilize power mobility.

The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client can safely operate their scooter or power wheelchair. This could include a physical assessment by a doctor or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's impairment and their current health. In certain situations, your client will need a vehicle lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at home, community or workplace.



Understanding the rules of road safety is an additional aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. This topic was mentioned by the majority of participants in the study.

Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving through the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specifically made to be used in this way). For others this meant driving more slowly in a busy environment and keeping an eye out for people walking.

The final and least desired option was taking away a person's chair, which was viewed as a double punishment that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facilities and community activities. This was the view of the majority of participants who had their chairs removed, including Diane and Harriet.

The participants also suggested that residents, family members, and staff members be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could include teaching driving basics (such as which side to walk on in a hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving techniques while outside and helping them recognize how their behavior affects the mobility of other people.

Follow-Up

A power mobility device can significantly impact the ability of a child to function and take part in life. Yet there isn't much research on the experiences of children who learn to use this device. This study employs a pre-post design to examine the impact of six months of use using 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 pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first theme, 'Power for Mobility explained how the use of an electric device impacted more than just locomotor skills. The experience of learning how to operate a powered mobility device is often an emotional and transformative experience.

The second theme, 'There's no such thing as a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning how to utilize the power mobility device was a bespoke process that evolved over time in a cyclical manner. The therapists were asked to decide what was appropriate depending on the individual's capabilities and needs. During the training phase, and after, therapists had to be patient with children and parents. A number of parents and therapists emphasized a need to help families celebrate their successes and solve issues that arise during the process of training.

The third theme called 'Shared space The study explored the ways in which using an electric device can influence other people's lives and interactions. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should always be considerate when using a device that is powered by electricity. This is especially applicable 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 been injured by a driver who did not yield the right of way.

The results of this study suggest that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be done in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to investigate the training and outcomes of this kind of intervention for children with CP. https://www.mymobilityscooters.uk/brands/green-power could lead to the development of more standard training protocols for this group.