10 Healthy Habits To Use Power Mobility
Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility can enhance participation in daily activities and recreation for those in long-term care. However, these devices can also pose safety risks that must be addressed. Instead of excluding residents who have certain diagnoses from power mobility option, which may be considered prejudicial risk management, most participants preferred to take an approach based on teleology and allow all residents to test the power mobility device. Mobility A power mobility device provides an option for those who are unable to move around their home or community and also to take part in daily activities that they might not otherwise be able to do. However, these devices may also be a danger to the person using them and also to other people who share their space or space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client prior to making recommendations regarding powered mobility. In an exploratory study conducted by OTs in three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their use of power mobility. The aim was to create a framework for client-centred power mobility prescribing. The findings revealed four main themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags – safety concerns and (4) solutions. Power mobility can improve the quality of life for people who have limited mobility. This is due to the fact that it allows them to take part in everyday activities at home and within the community. Self-care, productive and recreational jobs are essential for the mental and physical health of the elderly. For those suffering from chronic illnesses, power mobility can be a means to participate in these vital activities. The participants felt it was inconvenient to remove a wheelchair from a resident's home in order to alter their life's story and progression, and prevent them from engaging in the same activities that they did before their disease advanced. This was especially applicable to those in the Facility 1 who had been in a position to use their power chair for a short period of time and now relied on others to push them. Another option is to slow down the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However this could cause various issues like privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to get rid of the wheelchair from a resident's. Safety Power mobility allows people to move more easily. They can also participate in a greater variety of activities and run the errands. However, with greater freedom of movement comes a greater chance of accidents. These accidents could result in serious injuries for some. It is important to consider the safety of your clients before suggesting the use of power mobility. First check whether your client can safely operate their power chair or scooter. This could involve an assessment of physical health by a doctor or occupational therapist, or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In some cases your client may require an automobile lift to be able to load and unload the device at their home, workplace or community. Learning mymobilityscooters of road safety is an additional aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. The majority of participants in the study mentioned this theme. Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through crowded areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specifically made for this). For others this meant driving more slowly in a busy environment and keeping an eye out for pedestrians. The final and least desired option was to remove the chair of a person, which was seen as two-fold punishment that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facility and community activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who were stripped of their chairs. 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 correct side of a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills while out, and helping them to understand how their behavior affects other people's mobility. Follow-Up A power mobility device can have a profound impact on a child's ability to function and be a part of life. However, very little research has been done about the experience of children who learn to use this equipment. This study employs an approach that is pre-post to study the impact of six months of use with one of the four early power mobility devices on children in the school age group with severe cerebral palsy (CP). We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 parents and also occupational and physical therapists for children. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first theme, 'Power to move explained how the use of a powered device affected more than just locomotor abilities. The process of learning to drive a motorized mobility device can be an emotional and transformative experience. The second theme, 'There isn't a cookbook,' revealed that learning to use a power mobility device was an individual process that unfolded over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were required to discover what was appropriate for the individual child's needs and abilities. During the training phase and following, therapists were required to be patient with children and parents. Many parents and therapists mentioned a need to help families celebrate their successes and solve challenges associated with the training process. The third theme, “Shared space”, examined how the use of a power device can impact the lives of others. The majority of those who participated in this study felt that one should always show consideration for others when using their power mobility device. This was especially true when driving in public spaces. A few participants also mentioned that they had encountered 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 right-of-way. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training is possible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. Future research should be focused on the effectiveness of training and outcomes of this type of intervention for young children with CP. This could result in the development of more uniform training protocols specifically for this group of children.