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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility enhances participation in daily activities as well as activities for people who are in long-term care. The devices can also create safety concerns, which must be addressed. The majority of participants choose to take a teleological approach and provide all residents with the chance to try devices, not to exclude those with specific diagnosis, which could be considered an unfair risk management. Mobility A power mobility device allows those who are unable to move around their community or home and engage in daily activities that are otherwise unavailable to them. However, these devices can also be a danger to the person using them, and also to other people who share their environment or space. Occupational therapists should carefully consider the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations regarding powered mobility. In a study that was conducted by OTs at three residential facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to determine their use of power mobility. The goal was to develop an approach to client-centered 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: concerns about safety and (4) solutions. Power mobility can greatly improve the quality of life for people with limited mobility by allowing them to participate in a range of daily living activities at home as well as in the community (Brandt, 2001; Evans, 2000). Self-care, productive and recreational activities are essential to the mental and physical health of older adults. For those suffering from advanced illnesses, power mobility offers a way to participate in these vital activities. The participants felt it was inconvenient to remove a resident's wheelchair, as this would disrupt their life's narrative and direction and hinder them from doing the same activities that they had prior to their illness worsened. This was especially applicable to those in Facility 1 who were only allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and were now dependent on others to push them. Another option is to reduce the speed at which residents drove their chairs, but this led to a variety of concerns, including a lack of privacy and impact on other people in the community. In the end, taking away a resident's chair was considered the most drastic and least desired solution to security concerns. he has a good point allows people to move more easily. They can also take part in a wider range of activities and run around on their own. However, with increased freedom of movement comes a higher risk of accidents. For some, these accidents can cause serious injuries to themselves and others. This is why it is vital to think about the security of your client before suggesting that they utilize power mobility. First, determine whether your client can safely operate their power chair or scooter. Depending on their impairment and the state of their health, this could involve a physical assessment by a physician or occupational therapist, and an interview with a mobility expert to determine if a specific device would be appropriate for them. In certain situations, your client will need a lift for their vehicle to be capable of loading and unloading the mobility device at workplace, home, or community. Learning the rules of road safety is another aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. A majority of the participants discussed this topic. For some, this required learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through busy areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do this). For others this meant driving more cautiously in a noisy environment and keeping an eye out for pedestrians. The final and least desired alternative was to take away the chair of a person. This was viewed as a double punishment that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facility and community activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among those who had their chairs removed. Participants also suggested that family members, and staff members be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as the correct side to walk on in the hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving techniques when they leave and assisting them to be aware of how their actions affect the mobility of others. Follow-Up A power mobility device can significantly impact the ability of a child to function and take part in life. There is little research on the experiences children go through when they first learn to make use of these devices. This study uses an approach that is pre-post to study the impact of six months' experience with one of the four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents as well as pediatric occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three main 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 abilities. The experience of learning to drive a powered mobility device can be an emotional and transformative one. The second theme, 'There isn't a recipe book,' showed that the process of learning to utilize the power mobility device was an individualized process that evolved over time in a cyclical fashion. Therapists were asked to determine what was realistic in light of the child's capabilities and needs. Throughout the training and post-training phases, therapists were expected to be patient with parents and children. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to help families celebrate their achievements and address issues related to the process of training. Finally, the third theme, 'Shared space', explored the ways in which using a power device could affect the lives of others and how they interact. The majority of participants in this study believed that people should be mindful when using a power mobility device. This is especially important when driving in public spaces. Participants also shared that they've witnessed situations where property of someone else's had been damaged by the use of a power mobility device, or a person has been injured by a driver who didn't yield the right of way. The results of this study show that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be carried out in specific classroom settings. Future research should continue to investigate the training and outcomes for this kind of intervention for children with CP. This could lead to more standard training protocols for children suffering from CP.