Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility can enhance participation in daily activities and recreation for those who are in long-term care. The devices can also pose safety concerns, which must be addressed.
Most participants chose to adopt a teleological perspective and provide all residents with the chance to test devices, not to restrict residents with certain diagnosis which could be considered a prejudicial risk management.
Mobility
A power mobility device provides a way for people who are unable to move around in their home or community and to participate in daily activities that they might not otherwise be able to perform. However, these devices could also pose a risk for the person using them, and also to other people who share their environment or space. Occupational therapists need to carefully evaluate the safety needs of each client to make the best recommendations for 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 regarding their use of power mobility. 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) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags - safety concerns, and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can boost the quality of life for those who have mobility limitations. This is due to the fact that it lets them participate in daily activities at home as well as in the community. Self-care, active and recreational occupations are vital for mental and physical health of the elderly. For many who suffer from advanced illnesses, power mobility offers a way to participate in these important activities.
Most participants found it not acceptable to remove the chair of a resident, since this could cause a huge change in their life or course of action, and ultimately stop them from continuing with the same activities they had been doing before their disease progression. This was especially true for those in Facility 1 who had only been allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and were now reliant on others to push them.
Another solution would be to limit 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 get rid of the wheelchair from a resident's.
Safety
Power mobility allows people to move more freely. They can also participate in a broader range of activities, and run errands. With greater mobility comes a higher chance of accidents. These accidents could result in serious injuries for certain. It is crucial to think about the safety of your clients before suggesting the use of power mobility.
First check if your client is able to safely operate their scooter or power chair. This could involve an examination of the physical by a doctor or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's disability and their current health. In some cases the use of a vehicle lift may be required to allow for your client to load and unload their mobility device at home, in the community or at work.
Another aspect of safety is learning the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and the drivers of cars or buses. This topic was mentioned by most participants in the study.
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 so). Others drove more slowly and paid attention to pedestrians in a crowd.
The last and least preferred option of removing the wheelchair of a person, was viewed as a double punishment that would result in the loss of mobility and hindering the person from participating in community and facility activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who had their chairs taken away.
The participants also suggested that residents, family members, and staff members be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could involve teaching the basics of driving (such as using the right side of the hallway), 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 be a part of the world can be profoundly affected by a power mobility device. There isn't much research into the experiences children have when learning to use these devices. This study uses an approach that is pre-post to study the effects of six months of experience with one of the four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP).
We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents and also occupational and physical therapists for children. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first theme, 'Power for Mobility', described how the use of a powered device affected more than just the child's locomotor skills. Learning to drive a mobility device was often an emotional and transformative experience for those who participated.
The second theme, 'There's no such thing as a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to utilize the power mobility device was an individual process that developed over time in a cyclical fashion. https://www.mymobilityscooters.uk/brands/green-power were charged with determining what was appropriate for the individual child's needs and abilities. In the initial phase of training and after, therapists had to be patient with children and parents. A number of parents and therapists emphasized a need to help families celebrate successes and problem-solve issues that arise during the training process.
Finally, the third theme called 'Shared space', explored the ways in which using an electric device can influence the lives of other people and their interactions. The majority of those who participated in this study believed that one should always show consideration for other users when using a mobility device. This was especially applicable when driving on public roads. A few participants also mentioned that they had encountered situations in which someone else's property was damaged through the use of an electric mobility device, or where a person was injured by a driver who had not yielded the right-of-way.
Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility 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 type of intervention in young children with CP. This could lead to more standardized training protocols for children suffering from CP.