A Step-By-Step Guide To Power Mobility From Start To Finish

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.

Rather than exclude residents who have certain diagnoses from use of power mobility, which may be considered prejudicial risk management, most participants chose to take a teleological approach and let everyone test a device.

Mobility

A power mobility device allows people who are disabled to move about their homes or communities and take part in daily activities that are otherwise unavailable to them. However, these devices may also pose a risk to the person who uses them, and also to other people who are in their space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations on powered mobility.

In a study that was conducted by OTs at three residential facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to assess their use of power mobility. 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) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags security concerns, and (4) solutions.

Power mobility can greatly improve the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility by giving them the opportunity to participate in a variety of daily living activities at home as well as in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000).  electric scooter green  in self-care as well as leisure and productive occupations is crucial for physical and mental health for older adults and for those who are suffering from progressive illnesses power mobility is the opportunity to keep participating in these important activities.

The majority of participants felt it was unacceptable to take away the chair of a resident, since this would cause a major change in their life or course of action, and ultimately stop them from pursuing the same activities they used to do prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly relevant to those in Facility 1, who had been in a position to use their chairs for short durations and were dependent on others to push them around the facility.

Another option is to slow down the speed at which some residents drive their chairs. However it could create several issues, including privacy and the impact on the rest of the community.  green mobility scooter  to safety concerns was to get rid of the wheelchair from a resident's.

Safety

Power mobility allows disabled people to move more freely and participate in a greater variety of activities, and even complete around. With increased mobility comes an increased risk of accidents. For some, these accidents could cause serious injuries to themselves and others. This is why it is vital to think about the security of your client before recommending that they use power mobility.

The first step in determining safety is to determine if your client is able to safely operate their power scooter or power chair. This may include an examination of the physical by a physician, occupational therapist or mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's impairment and their current health. In some instances the use of a vehicle lift may be required to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home in the community, or at work.

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

For some, this required learning to use 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 slowly in a busy environment and keeping an eye out for people walking.

The final and least popular option, which was to remove the wheelchair of a person was viewed as a double punishment that would result in the loss of mobility and hindering them from participating in community and facility activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among the participants who had their chairs taken away.

Other solutions that were suggested by the participants included educating other residents, family members and staff on the safe operation of power mobility. This could involve teaching the basics of driving (such as using the correct side of a hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they leave and assisting them in understanding how their behavior affects the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

A device that is powered by electricity can significantly impact the child's ability to function and be a part of life. There isn't much research into the experiences children go through when they first learn to utilize these devices. This study uses an approach that is pre-post to study the impact of 6 months of experience with one of four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents, as well as occupational and physical therapists for children. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first, 'Power in mobility,' described the ways in which powered devices affected more than just the motor skills. Learning to drive a mobility device was often an emotional, transformative journey for participants.

The second theme 'There's no cookbook' revealed that learning how to utilize a mobility device was a process that took place in a continuous manner over time. Therapists were charged with determining what was realistic for each child's needs and abilities. In the post-training and training phases, therapists were also required to have patience with parents and children. Parents and therapists alike described the need to help families celebrate their achievements and address issues related to the training process.

Finally, the third theme called 'Shared space', explored the ways in which using devices that power us can affect the lives of other people and their interactions. The majority of the participants in this study believed that one must be mindful of other users when using a mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public spaces. Many participants also reported that they've had to deal with situations in which someone else's property was damaged through the use of an electric mobility device, or when a person was injured due to 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 appears feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to explore the effects of training and results of this kind of intervention for children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standard training protocols for children with CP.