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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility allows people who are in long-term care to take part in their routine activities and leisure pursuits. The devices can also create safety risks, which need to be addressed. Most participants chose to adopt a teleological perspective and give all residents the chance to try a device, rather than exclude those with specific diagnosis, which could be considered a risk management decision that is prejudicial. Mobility A power mobility device is an option for those who are unable to move around their community or home, and participate in activities of daily living that they may not be able to participate in. These devices can cause danger not only to the individual using them, but also to other people who share their space or the space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety requirements of each client prior to making recommendations on powered mobility. In an exploratory study (von Zweck 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their power mobility use. The aim was to create an approach to client-centered power mobility prescribing. The results revealed four major themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags – safety concerns, and (4) solutions. Power mobility can dramatically improve the quality of life for those with limited mobility by allowing them to participate in a variety of everyday life 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 essential for physical and mental health of older adults, and for a lot of people who are suffering from progressive illnesses power mobility is an opportunity to continue taking part in these important activities. It was considered unacceptable by the participants to take away a wheelchair in order to alter their life's narrative and direction and stop them from performing the same things they did before their disease progressed. This was especially the case for those in the facility 1, who had been able to maintain their chairs for short periods of time, but were forced to rely on other residents to push them around the facility. Another solution would be to slow down the speed at which some residents drive their chairs. However, this could raise several issues, including privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to safety concerns was to get rid of a resident's wheelchair. Safety Power mobility allows those with disabilities to move around more easily and take part in a wider variety of activities, and even run the errands. However, with greater freedom of movement comes a higher risk of accidents. For some, these incidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. It is crucial to consider the safety of your clients before suggesting power mobility. The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client can safely operate their power wheelchair or scooter. This may include an assessment of physical health by a physician, occupational therapist or mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's impairment and their current health. In certain situations your client may require an automobile lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at workplace, home, or community. Understanding the rules of road safety is a further aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. Most participants in the study discussed this topic. For some it required learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through crowded areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed for doing this). For others this meant driving more cautiously in a noisy environment and watching out for pedestrians. The final and least popular option of removing the wheelchair of a person was seen as a double-punishment: losing independence in mobility and preventing them from taking part in the activities of the community and facilities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who had their chairs removed. Other ideas suggested by the participants included educating other residents as well as family members and staff about the safety of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as driving on the right side of a hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving skills when they go out and helping them to understand how their actions can affect other people's mobility. Follow-Up A power mobility device can significantly impact the child's ability to function and take part in life. However, My Mobility Scooters isn't much research on the experience of children learning to use this device. This study uses the pre-post method to investigate the impact of 6 months of experience with one of four early power mobility devices on the children in school 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 identified three main themes. The first, 'Power in mobility,' explained how the use of powered devices affected more than just a child's motor skills. Learning to drive a mobility device was often a transformative, emotionally charged experience for those who participated. The second theme 'There's no recipe book' revealed that the process of learning to make use of the mobility device was a process that took place in a continuous manner over time. The therapists were asked to determine what was realistic depending on the individual's capabilities and needs. In the initial phase of training and afterwards, therapists needed to be patient with children as well as parents. Several parents and therapists described a need to help families celebrate their successes and solve problems that arise from the process of training. The third theme, “Shared space”, explored how the use a power device can impact the lives of others. The majority of the participants in this study believed that it is important to be considerate when using a power mobility device. This was especially true when driving in public spaces. Participants also mentioned that they've witnessed situations where someone else's property had been damaged by the use a power mobility device, or a person has been injured by a driver who failed to yield the right of way. Overall, the findings 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 should hopefully result in the development of more standard training protocols for this population.