What A Weekly Power Mobility Project Can Change Your Life

Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility allows people in long-term care to participate in their daily activities and leisure pursuits. These devices also raise security concerns that need to be addressed.

Rather than exclude 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 the teleological approach and let everyone trial the device.

Mobility

A power mobility device provides a method for people who are unable to move around in their community or home, and also to take part in daily activities that they may not be able to do. However, these devices can also pose a risk to the person using them and other people who share their space or space. Therapists in occupational therapy must examine each client's safety requirements to make the most appropriate recommendations for powered mobility.

In an exploratory study (von Zweck 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their power mobility use.  green power mobility scooter reviews  was to create an environment that allowed 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 concerning safety, and (4) solutions.

Power mobility can greatly improve the quality of life for individuals who have limited mobility, permitting them to take part in a range of daily living activities both at home and in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care as well as leisure and productive occupations is vital for physical and mental health for older adults, and for those who are suffering from progressive illnesses, power mobility offers the opportunity to keep participating in these vital activities.

The majority of participants felt it was unacceptable 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 pursuing the same activities they were doing prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly applicable to those in Facility 1 who were only allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and were now dependent on others to push them.

Another potential solution was reducing the speed at which residents drove their chairs, but this could have raised issues such as a lack of privacy and impact on other people in the community. Ultimately, removing a resident's chair was considered the most drastic and least desired solution to safety concerns.

Safety

Power mobility lets people move around more freely. They can also participate in a broader range of activities, as well as run around on their own. However, with greater 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 safety of your client prior to suggesting that they utilize power mobility.

First check whether your client is able to safely use their scooter or power chair. This could include an examination of the physical by a physician or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In some instances your client may require a vehicle lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at home, community or workplace.

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

For some it required learning to use their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through areas that were crowded or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do this). For others, it meant driving more slowly in a busy environment and watching out for people walking.

green mobility scooters  and least preferred option of removing the wheelchair of a person, was viewed as a double whammy: losing independence in mobility, and also preventing the person from participating in activities with the community or at facilities. Diane and Harriet among others were among those who had their chairs taken away.

Other ideas suggested by the participants included educating other residents, family members and staff on the proper operation of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as the right side to walk on in the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave, and helping them recognize how their behavior affects other people's mobility.

Follow-Up

A child's ability and willingness to be a part of the world can be profoundly affected by a device that can power them. There isn't much research on the experience that children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study uses the pre-post method to investigate the effects of six months' experience with one of the four early power mobility devices on children in the school age group with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first theme, 'Power to move', described how using a powered device affected more than just locomotor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device was often an emotional, transformative journey for participants.

The second theme, 'There's not a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to utilize a power mobility device was an individualized process that evolved over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were charged with determining what was realistic for each child's needs and abilities. Throughout the training and post-training phases, therapists were also required to be patient with parents and children. Parents and therapists alike described the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the training process.

Finally, the third theme"Shared space', explored the ways in which using an electric device can affect other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should always be mindful when using a device that is powered by electricity. This is particularly true when driving in public areas. Participants also said that they had seen situations where property of someone else's was damaged due to the use of a power mobility device or an individual had been injured by a driver who didn't 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. The next research study should examine the effectiveness of training and outcomes for this kind of intervention in children with CP. This should hopefully lead to the development of more standardized training protocols for this group.