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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility improves participation in daily activities and activities for people in long term care. However, the devices can also pose safety risks that must be addressed.

Most participants chose to take a teleological approach and give all residents the opportunity to test the device, instead of exclude those with specific diagnoses that could be viewed as a prejudicial risk management.

Mobility

A power green energy mobility scooters device enables people who are unable to move about their homes or communities and take part in daily activities that are otherwise unavailable to them. These devices can pose a risk not only to the person using them, but also to those who are in their environment. Therapists in occupational therapy must examine each client's safety requirements to make the best recommendations for powered mobility.

In an exploratory study conducted by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate the extent to which they used power mobility. The objective was to establish a framework that would allow the use of power mobility - qooh.Me - 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 security concerns and (4) solutions.

Power mobility can boost the quality of life of people with limited mobility. This is due to the fact that it allows them to participate in everyday activities at home as well as in the community. Self-care, productive and leisure activities are essential to the physical and mental well-being of the elderly. For many who suffer from progressive diseases, power mobilty offers a way to participate in these important activities.

It was considered unacceptable by the participants to take away a wheelchair because it would alter their life story and trajectory and hinder them from engaging in the same things that they had prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly true for those in the Facility 1 who had only been in a position to use their power chair for a short time and were now dependent on others to push them.

Another possible solution is to limit the speed at which residents drove their chairs, however this led to a variety of issues, such as privacy concerns and impact on other people in the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away a resident's wheelchair.

Safety

Power mobility lets people move more freely. They are also able to participate in a greater variety of activities and run errands. With increased mobility comes an increased chance of accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for a few. It is important to think about the security of your clients prior to recommending power mobility.

The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client is safe to operate their power greenpower scooter or power chair. Depending on the severity of their disability and the condition of their current health, this might involve a physical assessment by an occupational or physician therapist, as well as a discussion with a mobility specialist to determine if a specific device is appropriate for them. In certain situations, a vehicle lift will be required to make it possible for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or 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 buses or cars. The majority of participants in the study discussed this topic.

Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving through the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was designed to be used in this way). Others drove slower and looked out for pedestrians in an area that was crowded.

The most popular and least desired option that was to take away the wheelchair of a person was seen as a double whammy that would result in the loss of mobility and preventing the person from participating in community and facility activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who were stripped of their chairs.

The participants also suggested that family members, and staff members be trained on the safe use 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 skills when they leave and helping them understand how their behavior can influence the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

A device that is powered by electricity can have a profound impact on a child's ability to function and take part in life. There has been little research into the experiences children experience when they learn to use these devices. This study employs the pre-post method to investigate the impact of 6 months of use with one of the four early power mobility devices on the children in school with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents, and also pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three main themes. The first, 'Power in mobility,' described the ways in which a powered device changed more than just the locomotor abilities. The process of learning to operate a powered mobility device can be an emotional and transformative experience.

The second theme, 'There isn't a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning how to utilize a power mobility device was a bespoke process that developed over time in a cyclical manner. The therapists were asked to decide what was appropriate depending on the individual's capabilities and needs. In the post-training and training phases, therapists were expected to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to help families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the process of training.

The third theme, "Shared space", examined how the use of an electric device can affect the lives of others. The majority of participants in this study believed that it is important to be mindful when using a power mobility device. This was especially true when driving on public roads. Participants also shared that they had seen situations where someone else's property was damaged due to the use of a motorized device, or a person has been injured by a driver who didn't yield the right of way.

The results of this study show that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be carried out in a variety of classroom settings. Future research should continue to explore the effects of training and results of this type of intervention with young children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children suffering from CP.