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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility allows people who are in long-term care to take part in their daily activities and leisure pursuits. The devices can also create safety concerns, which must be addressed. The majority of participants opt to take a teleological approach and allow all residents the chance to test the device, instead of exclude those with specific diagnoses which could be considered a risk management decision that is prejudicial. Mobility A power mobility device is a method for people with limited mobility to move about their community or home, and also to take part in activities of daily living that they would not be able to perform. These devices be a danger not just to the individual using them, but also to those who are in their environment. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety needs of each client before making recommendations about powered mobility. In a study that was conducted by OTs in three residential care facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to determine their power mobility use. The objective was to develop a framework for client-centred power mobility prescribing. The results revealed four main themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags concern about safety and (4) solutions. Power mobility can significantly increase quality of life for those with limited mobility by permitting them to take part in a variety of everyday living activities, both at home and in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Participation in self-care, productive and leisure occupations is vital to mental and physical health for older adults and for many people with chronic illnesses power mobility can be a way to continue participating in these vital activities. Participants found it unacceptable to remove a resident's wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life story and trajectory and hinder them from performing the same things that they had prior to their illness progressed. This was particularly true for those in the Facility 1 who had been allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and were now reliant on others to push them. Another option is to reduce the speed at which some residents drove their chairs, however this raised a number of issues, such as a lack of privacy 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 desirable solution to security concerns. my response allows those with disabilities to get around more freely and take part in a wider range of activities and complete errands. However, with increased mobility comes a higher risk of accidents. These accidents can cause serious injuries for a few. This is why it is crucial to consider the safety of your client prior to suggesting they use power mobility. First check if your client is able to safely use their power chair or scooter. Depending on their condition and their current health, this may involve a physical evaluation by an occupational or physician therapist, and a discussion with a mobility specialist to determine if a specific device would be appropriate for them. In some instances your client may require a lift for their vehicle to be capable of loading and unloading the device at their home, workplace or community. Another aspect of safety is knowing the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. This topic was mentioned by a majority of participants in the study. For some, this 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). For others this meant driving more cautiously in a noisy environment and keeping an eye out for pedestrians. The last and least preferred option, which was to remove the wheelchair of a person was viewed as a double-punishment as it would mean losing mobility and hindering the person from participating in activities with the community or at facilities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among those who had their chairs removed. Participants also suggested that family members, and staff be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could involve teaching the fundamentals of driving (such as driving on the right side of the hallway), encouraging residents to practice driving strategies while out, and helping them to understand how their behavior affects other people's mobility. Follow-Up A child's ability and willingness to be a part of the world can be greatly affected by a power mobility device. However, there isn't much research on the experience of children who learn to use this equipment. 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 group of school-aged children 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 identified three main themes. The first theme, 'Power for Mobility explained the ways that using the power of a device affected more than just locomotor abilities. The experience of learning to drive a powered mobility device is often an emotional and transformative one. The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' revealed that the process of learning to use the mobility device was a process that took place in a cyclical manner over time. Therapists were asked to decide what was appropriate in light of the child's capabilities and requirements. During the training phase and following, therapists were required to be patient with children as well as parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to help families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the training process. Finally, the third theme, 'Shared space', explored how the use of devices that power us can affect the lives of others and how they interact. The majority of the participants in this study believed one should always show consideration for other users when using a mobility device. This was especially applicable when driving on roads that are public. Many participants also reported that they had encountered situations in which someone else's property was damaged by the use of an electric mobility device, or when a person was injured by a driver who had not yielded the right-of-way. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term socialization and power mobility training appears feasible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom settings. Future research should continue to explore the training and outcomes of this type of intervention with young children with CP. This will hopefully result in the development of more standard training protocols for this group.