Why Power Mobility Will Be Your Next Big Obsession?

Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as activities for people who are in long-term care. However, the devices could also create safety concerns that must be addressed. Instead of excluding residents with a specific diagnosis from the use of power mobility as it could be viewed as prejudicial risk management, most participants chose to take the teleological approach and let all residents trial the power mobility device. Mobility A power mobility device allows those with limited ability to move about their community or home and engage in daily activities that might otherwise be unavailable to them. These devices can be a danger not just to the person using them, but also to other people who share their space or the space. Occupational therapists need to carefully evaluate the safety needs of each client 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 regarding their power mobility use. The objective was to establish a framework that could allow the use of power mobility that is centered on the needs of the client. 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 significantly increase quality of life for people with limited mobility by permitting them to take part in a variety of daily life activities, both at home and in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, productive and recreational occupations are vital for mental and physical health of older adults. For many who suffer from chronic illnesses, power mobility allows them to take part in these essential activities. The participants felt it was inconvenient to remove a resident's wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life story and trajectory and hinder them from engaging in the same things that they were doing before their condition progressed. This was especially the case for those in Facility 1, who had been capable of maintaining their chairs for short periods of time and were forced to rely on others to help them move around the facility. Another option is to limit the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However this could cause a number issues such as privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to remove a resident's wheelchair. Safety Power mobility allows people to move around more freely. They are also able to participate in a greater variety of activities, and complete errands. However, with greater mobility comes a greater chance of accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for a few. This is why it is vital to consider the security of your client before 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 assessment of physical health by a doctor or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In some cases, your client will need a vehicle lift to be capable of loading and unloading the device at their workplace, home, or community. Learning the rules of road safety is a further aspect of safety. This involves sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. A majority of the participants discussed this topic. For Suggested Looking at , it required learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through areas that were crowded or over curbs (unless specifically designed for doing this). For others, it meant driving more slow in a crowded area and keeping an eye out for people walking. The most popular and least desired option of removing a person's wheelchair, was seen as a double-punishment: losing independence in mobility, and also preventing them from taking part in community and facility activities. This was the opinion of most participants who were able to remove their chairs and included Diane and Harriet. Other solutions that were suggested by participants included educating other residents staff, family members and other residents on the proper operation of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as which side to walk on in a hallway), encouraging the residents to practice driving techniques when they go outside, and helping them be aware of how their actions affect the mobility of others. Follow-Up The capacity and willingness of a child to take part in the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. There has been little research on the experience that children have when learning to use these devices. This study employs an approach that is post-previous to study the effects of six months of use with one of four early mobility devices on a group of school-aged children of children suffering from severe cerebral palsy (CP). We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents along with pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes. The first, 'Power and mobility,' explained the ways in which a powered device changed more than just the locomotor abilities. The experience of learning how to operate a powered mobility device can be an emotional and transformative experience. 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 cycle. Therapists were required to discover the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and capabilities. In the post-training and training phases, therapists were expected to be patient with parents and children. Several parents and therapists described a need to help families celebrate their successes and solve challenges associated with the process of training. The third theme, “Shared space”, looked at how the use of an electric device can affect the lives of others. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should be mindful when using a power device. This is particularly true when driving in public areas. Participants also shared that they had seen situations where property of someone else's had been damaged by the use of a motorized device, or a person has been injured by 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 possible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to investigate the effects of training and results of this type of intervention for young children with CP. electric scooter green will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children with CP.