Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as recreational pursuits for individuals in long term care. These devices also raise security concerns that need to be addressed. The majority of participants opt to take a teleological approach and allow all residents the chance to try the device, instead of exclude those with specific diagnoses, which could be considered a prejudicial risk management. Mobility A power mobility device allows those with limited ability to move about their community or home and engage in daily activities that are otherwise not accessible to them. However, these devices could also pose a risk for the person who uses them, and also to other people who share their environment or space. Therapists in occupational therapy must evaluate the safety needs of each client to make the best suggestions regarding 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 about their use of power mobility. The aim was to create a framework for client-centered power mobility prescribing. The findings revealed four main 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 who have limited mobility. This is because it allows them to take part in daily activities at home and within the community. Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is essential to mental and physical health of older adults, and for those who are suffering from progressive illnesses power mobility can be a way to continue participating in these vital activities. The participants felt it was inconvenient to take away a wheelchair because it would alter their life's narrative and direction, and prevent them from doing the same activities that they were doing before their condition worsened. This was especially the case for those in the facility 1 who were capable of maintaining their chairs for short durations and were forced to rely on others to help them move around the facility. Another possible solution is to limit the speed at which residents drove their chairs, however this could have raised issues such as privacy issues and impact on other people in the community. Ultimately, removing the chair of a resident was deemed the most drastic and least preferred solution to safety concerns. Safety Power mobility allows disabled people to get around more freely and participate in a greater variety of activities, and even do the errands. However, with greater mobility comes a higher risk of accidents. For some, these accidents could result in serious injuries to themselves and others. It is essential to consider the safety of your clients prior to recommending the use of power mobility. First, determine whether your client is able to safely use their scooter or power chair. Depending on their impairment and the condition of their current health, this might involve a physical evaluation by a doctor or occupational therapist, as well as having a conversation with a mobility expert to determine whether a specific device is appropriate for them. In some instances, a vehicle lift will be necessary to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or at work. Knowing greenpower mobility of road safety is another aspect of safety. This includes sharing space, with other wheelchair users, pedestrians, and drivers of cars or buses. This is a topic that was mentioned by the majority of participants in the study. Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving in crowded areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was made for this purpose). Others drove slower and looked out for pedestrians in a crowd. The most popular and least desired option that was to take away a person's wheelchair, was seen as a double punishment as it would mean losing mobility and preventing them from taking part in activities with the community or at facilities. This was the view of the majority of participants who had their chairs removed, including Diane and Harriet. Participants also suggested that family members, and staff members be educated 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 techniques while out, and helping them understand how their behavior can influence other people's mobility. Follow-Up A power mobility device can profoundly affect a child's ability to function and take part in life. There has been little research on the experience that children experience when they learn to utilize these devices. This study uses the post-previous method to analyze the effects of 6 months of using one of the four early mobility devices on a group of school-aged children of children suffering from severe cerebral palsy (CP). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes. The first theme, 'Power for mobility explained the ways that using an electric device impacted more than just the child's locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a mobility device can be an emotional, transformative journey for the participants. The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' showed that learning how to make use of an equipment for mobility was a process that unfolded in a cyclical manner over time. The therapists were asked to determine what was realistic depending on the individual's capabilities and needs. Throughout the training and post-training phases, therapists were also required to have patience with parents and children. Several parents and therapists described the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve challenges associated with the training process. The third theme, "Shared space", looked at how the use of a power device can impact the lives of others. The majority of the participants in this study believed that people should always show consideration for other users when using a mobility device. This is especially important when driving in public areas. Several participants also noted that they had encountered situations where someone else's property was damaged due to the use of the power mobility device or in which an individual was injured by a driver who had not yielded the right-of-way. Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training appears feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should be focused on the training and outcomes of this kind of intervention with young children with CP. This should hopefully result in the development of more uniform training protocols for this population.
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