How Much Do Power Mobility Experts Make?

Power Mobility and Safety Concerns

Power mobility enhances participation in daily activities as well as recreation for those in long-term care. However, these devices can also cause safety issues that need to be addressed.

Rather than exclude residents with certain diagnoses from the use of power mobility as it could be viewed as prejudicial risk management, most participants chose to take a teleological approach and let all residents test the power mobility device.

Mobility

A power mobility device provides a method for people who are unable to move around their home or community and also to take part in everyday activities that they would not be able to perform. These devices can pose a risk not only for the person who uses them, but also to other people who share their space or surroundings. Therapists in occupational therapy must examine each client's safety requirements to provide the most appropriate 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 goal was to create an environment that allowed 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: concerns about safety and (4) solutions.

Power mobility can greatly improve the quality of life for people who have limited mobility, permitting them to take part in a variety of everyday living activities, at home as well as in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care or leisure activities, as well as productive ones is vital for physical and mental health for older adults and for a lot of people with progressive diseases, power mobility offers an opportunity to continue taking part in these important activities.

The majority of participants felt it was not acceptable to remove the chair of a resident, since it would result in a significant change in their life or path and prevent them from pursuing the same activities that they were doing prior to the progression of their illness. This was especially the case for those in Facility 1, who had been capable of maintaining their power chairs for brief periods of time, but were forced to rely on other residents to move them around the facility.

find more information  is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, however this could have raised concerns, including a lack of privacy and impact on other people in the community. Ultimately, removing the chair of a resident was thought to be the most drastic and least desired solution to safety concerns.

Safety

Power mobility lets people move around more freely. They are also able to participate in a greater variety of activities and complete around on their own. However, with greater mobility comes a greater chance of accidents. For some, these accidents can cause serious injuries to themselves and others. It is essential to consider the security of your clients prior to suggesting the use of power mobility.

First consider determining whether your client is able to safely use their power chair or scooter. Based on the severity of their condition and their current health, this may involve a physical evaluation by a doctor or occupational therapist, or an interview with a mobility specialist to determine if a particular device is appropriate for them. In some instances your client may require a vehicle lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at their workplace, home, or community.

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

For some it required learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through areas that were crowded or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do so). Others drove slower and paid attention to pedestrians in a crowded environment.

The most popular and least desired 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 preventing the person from participating in activities with the community or at facilities. This was the view of most participants who were able to remove their chairs, including Diane and Harriet.

Other suggestions made by participants included educating residents, family members and staff on the safe operation of power mobility. This could include teaching driving basics (such as the right side to walk on in a hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving while outside, and helping them be aware of how their actions affect the mobility of others.

Follow-Up

A child's ability and willingness to participate in life can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. There is  find more information  on the experiences children go through when they first learn to make use of these devices. This study uses an approach that is post-previous to study the effects of six months of using one of four early mobility devices on a school-aged group 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 to move The theme described how the use of a powered device affected more than just the child's locomotor abilities. Learning to drive a power mobility device can be an emotional, transformative journey for participants.

The second theme, 'There isn't a recipe book,' showed that learning to use a power mobility device was an individualized process that unfolded over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were tasked with unearthing what was realistic for each child's needs and abilities. In the initial phase of training and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children as well as parents. Therapists and parents alike emphasized the need to help families celebrate their accomplishments and address issues related to the process of training.

The third theme, "Shared space", explored how the use a power device can impact other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should always be considerate when using a power device. This was especially true when driving in public areas. A few participants also mentioned that they've encountered situations in which 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 not yielded the 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 environments. Future research should be focused on the training and outcomes of this type of intervention for young children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children suffering from CP.