10 Unexpected Power Mobility Tips
Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility allows individuals in long-term care to participate in their routine activities and leisure pursuits. However, green power mobility scooters near me can also pose safety risks which need to be addressed. Rather than exclude residents with a specific diagnosis from the power mobility option that could be considered risk management prejudicial, most participants opted to adopt an approach based on teleology and let everyone try out the power mobility device. Mobility A power mobility device allows those who are disabled to move about their homes or communities and take part in daily activities that would otherwise be unavailable to them. However, these devices may also be a danger to the person using them, and also to other people who share their environment or space. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations regarding powered mobility. In a study that was conducted by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to determine the extent to which they used 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 significantly increase quality of life for those who are mobility-challenged by allowing them to participate in a variety of daily living activities at home as well as in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, productive and leisure activities are essential to the physical and mental well-being of older adults. For many who suffer from advanced illnesses, power mobility offers a way to participate in these important activities. Most participants found it not acceptable to remove the resident's chair since this would cause a major disruption in their life story or path and prevent them from pursuing the same activities they used to do prior to the progression of their illness. This was particularly relevant for those in the Facility 1 who were only able use their power chairs for a brief period and now relied on others to push them. Another option is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, but this led to a variety of concerns, including privacy issues and impact on other people in the community. In the end, taking away the chair of a resident was thought to be the most drastic and least preferred solution to security concerns. Safety Power mobility allows those with disabilities to get around more freely and participate in a greater range of activities and do errands. However, with increased freedom of movement comes a higher risk of accidents. These incidents can result in serious injuries for certain. It is important to think about the safety of your clients before recommending the use of power mobility. The first step in determining safety is to determine if your client is safe to operate their power scooter or power chair. This could include an examination of the physical by a physician 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 may require a lift for their vehicle to be able to load and unload the mobility device at home, workplace or community. Another aspect of safety is learning the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. The majority of participants in the study discussed this topic. Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving in the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was made for this purpose). For others, it meant driving more slow in a crowded area and keeping an eye out for pedestrians. The final and least preferred alternative was to take away the chair of a person, which was viewed as a double punishment that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facilities and community activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among those who had their chairs removed. Other solutions that were suggested by participants included educating other residents staff, family members and other residents about the safety of power mobility. This could include teaching basic driving skills (such as the correct side to walk on in the hallway), encouraging the residents to practice driving skills when they leave and assisting them to recognize how their behavior affects the mobility of other people. Follow-Up A device that is powered by electricity can significantly impact a child's ability to function and be a part of life. However, very little research has been done about the experience of children learning to use this device. This study employs an approach that is post-previous to study the effects of 6 months of using one of four early mobility devices on a school-aged group of children who suffer from severe cerebral Palsy (CP). We conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three main 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 one. The second theme, 'There isn't a cookbook,' revealed that learning to use a power mobility device was a bespoke process that developed over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were required to determine what was feasible in light of the child's capabilities and needs. In the initial phase of training and after, therapists had to be patient with children and parents. Parents and therapists alike described the need to assist families celebrate their achievements and address issues related to the training process. The third theme, “Shared space”, examined how the use of a power device can impact other people's lives and interactions. The majority of the participants in this study felt that people should always show consideration for others when using their power mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public spaces. Several participants also noted that they've encountered situations where someone else's property was damaged due to the use of a power mobility device, or in which an individual was injured by a driver who had failed to yield right-of-way. Overall, the results of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training is feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should be focused on the effectiveness of training and outcomes of this type of intervention for children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standard training protocols for children with CP.