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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as activities for people in long-term care. The devices can also create security concerns that need to be addressed. Most participants chose to adopt a teleological perspective and give all residents the chance to test a device, rather than exclude residents with specific diagnoses that could be viewed as an unfair risk management. Mobility A power mobility device is a method for people who are unable to move around in their home or community and participate in activities of daily living that they would not be able to participate in. These devices cause danger not only to the individual using them, but also to other people who are in their environment. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client prior to making recommendations on powered mobility. In an exploratory study carried out by OTs at three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their power mobility use. The goal was to create a framework that could allow for client-centred power movement prescribing. The results revealed four major 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, allowing them to participate in a variety of everyday living activities both at home and in the community (Brandt 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, productive and recreational occupations are vital for physical and mental health of older adults. For those suffering from chronic illnesses, power mobility can be a means to participate in these important activities. The participants felt it was inconvenient to remove a wheelchair from a resident's home, as this would disrupt their life's story and progression, and prevent them from performing the same things they had prior to their illness progressed. This was especially 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 move them around the facility. Another potential solution was reducing the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, but this raised a number of issues such as privacy concerns and impact on other people in the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to remove a resident's wheelchair. Safety Power mobility allows people to move more freely. They can also participate in a greater variety of activities, and complete around on their own. However, with increased mobility comes a greater risk for accidents. For some, these incidents could cause serious injuries to themselves or others. It is important to consider the security of your clients prior to recommending power mobility. First check whether your client can safely operate their scooter or power chair. This could involve an assessment of physical health by a doctor, occupational therapist or mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In certain situations it is necessary to have a vehicle lift. be necessary 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 learning the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with pedestrians, other wheelchair users and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. This topic was mentioned by a majority of participants in the study. Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving through crowded areas or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specifically made for this). For others this meant driving more cautiously in a noisy environment and keeping an eye out for people walking. The final and least preferred option was taking away the chair of a person. This was viewed as a two-fold penalty loss of mobility independent and preventing access to facilities and community activities. This was the opinion of the majority of those who were able to remove their chairs, including Diane and Harriet. Participants also suggested that residents, family members, and staff members be trained on the safe use of power mobility. This could include teaching basic driving skills (such as the correct side to walk on in a hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving when they go outside and helping them understand how their behavior affects the mobility of other people. Follow-Up A power mobility device can have a profound impact on a child's ability to function and participate in life. Yet little research has been done about the experience of children learning to use this equipment. This study uses the post-previous method to analyze the effects of 6 months of experience with one of the four early mobility devices on a group of school-aged children of children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis identified three major themes. The first theme, 'Power to move The theme described the ways that using the power of a device affected more than just the child's locomotor skills. Learning to drive a power mobility device was often a transformative, emotionally charged journey for the participants. The second theme, 'There's not a cookbook,' revealed that the process of learning to use a power mobility device was a bespoke process that developed over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were required to decide what was appropriate based on each child's abilities and requirements. During the training phase, and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children as well as parents. Recommended Browsing and parents alike spoke of the need to help families celebrate their successes and address issues related to the process of training. The third theme, “Shared space”, examined how the use of the power device can affect other people's lives and interactions. The majority of participants in this study felt that people should always show consideration for other people when using their mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public areas. Several participants also noted that they've encountered situations in which someone else's property was damaged through the use of a power mobility device, or in which an individual was injured by a driver who had not yielded right-of-way. The results of this study show that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in specific classroom environments. Future research should continue to investigate the effectiveness of training and outcomes of this type of intervention for young children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standardized training protocols for children who have CP.