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 pose safety concerns, which must be addressed.
Instead of excluding residents with certain diagnoses from the power mobility option, which may be considered risk management that is prejudicial, the majority of participants chose to take a teleological approach and let everyone try out the device.
Mobility
A power mobility device allows those with limited ability to move about their homes or communities and engage in daily activities that are otherwise unavailable to them. These devices pose a risk not only to the individual using them, but also to those who are in their the space. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety needs of each client before making recommendations regarding powered mobility.
In a study that was conducted by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their use of power mobility. The objective was to establish a framework that would allow for a client-centered power movement prescription. The findings revealed four main 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 enhance the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility. This is because it allows them to participate in daily activities at home and within the community. Self-care, active and recreational activities are essential to the mental and physical health of older adults. For many with progressive diseases, power mobilty allows them to take part in these important activities.
Most participants found it not acceptable to remove the resident's chair since this could cause a huge change in their life or path and prevent them from continuing with the same activities that they used to do prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly true for those in the facility 1, who had been in a position to use their chairs for short periods of time, but were forced to rely on others to help them move around the facility.
Another solution would be to reduce the speed that residents drive their chairs. However it could create various issues like privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away the wheelchair from a resident's.
Safety
Power mobility allows people to move more easily. They can also participate in a broader range of activities, and run errands. However, with increased mobility comes a higher risk of accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for certain. This is why it is crucial to consider the security of your client before suggesting that they use a power mobility.
First check whether your client is able to safely use their scooter or power chair. This could include an assessment of physical health by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's disability and their current health. In certain situations it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be necessary to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home or in the community at work.
Understanding the rules of road safety is an additional aspect of safety. green mobility scooter involves sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. The majority of participants in the study discussed this topic.
For some, this required learning to use their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through crowded areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do this). Others drove more cautiously and paid attention to pedestrians in a crowded environment.
The last and least preferred option of removing a person's wheelchair, was viewed as a double-punishment that would result in the loss of mobility and preventing them from taking part in activities with the community or at facilities. Diane and Harriet among others were among those who had their chairs taken away.
Participants also suggested that family members, and staff members be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the fundamentals of driving (such as driving on the right side of a hallway), encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave and assisting them in understanding how their actions can affect other people's mobility.
Follow-Up
The capacity and willingness of a child to participate in life can be greatly affected by a device that can power them. However, very little research has been done about the experience of children learning to use this equipment. This study uses the pre-post method to investigate the impact of 6 months of experience with one of the four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP).
green power mobility scooters near me conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first theme, 'Power for Mobility The theme described the ways that using an electric device impacted more than just the child's locomotor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device was often a transformative, emotionally charged journey for participants.
The second theme 'There's no cookbook' revealed that learning to use the mobility device was a process that unfolded in a continuous manner over time. Therapists were tasked with unearthing the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and capabilities. In the initial phase of training and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children as well as parents. Parents and therapists alike described the need to assist families celebrate their achievements and address issues related to the training process.
The third theme, "Shared space", explored how the use the power device can affect other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should always be considerate when using a device that is powered by electricity. This was particularly applicable when driving on public roads. Participants also said that they had seen situations where property of someone else's had been damaged by the use of a power mobility device or a person had suffered injuries from a driver who failed to yield the right of way.
Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training is feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. Future research should continue to investigate the training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in young children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standardized training protocols for children who have CP.