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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility allows those who are in long-term care to take part in their routine activities and leisure activities. These devices also raise security concerns that need to be addressed. The majority of participants opt to take a teleological approach and give all residents the chance to try a device, rather than restrict residents with certain diagnoses, which could be considered an unfair risk management. Mobility A power mobility device provides a way for people with limited mobility to move around in their home or community and also to take part in everyday activities that they might not otherwise be able to do. powered mobility scooter can be a danger not just to the person using them but also to others who are in their the space. Occupational therapists must carefully assess the safety requirements of each client before making recommendations on powered mobility. In an exploratory study carried out by OTs at three residential facilities of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, qualitative interviews were conducted with residents to evaluate their power mobility use. The aim was to develop a framework that could allow for a client-centered power movement prescription. 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 improve the quality of life for individuals who have mobility limitations. This is because it allows them to participate in daily activities at home and in the community. Self-care, productive and leisure occupations are vital for mental and physical health of the elderly. For those suffering from chronic illnesses, power mobility offers a way to participate in these important activities. The participants felt it was inconvenient to remove a wheelchair from a resident's home in order to alter their life's story and progression and stop them from doing the same things they had prior to their illness progressed. This was especially true for those in Facility 1 who had been allowed to use their power chairs for a short time and now relied on others to push them. Another solution would be to slow down the speed at which some residents drive their chairs. However it could create various issues like privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. Ultimately, removing a resident's chair was considered the most drastic and least preferred solution to security concerns. Safety Power mobility allows people to move around more freely. They can also take part in a wider range of activities, as well as complete the errands. With greater mobility comes a higher chance of accidents. For some, these incidents could cause serious injuries to themselves and others. This is why it is vital to think about the safety of your client before suggesting they utilize power mobility. The first step in assessing safety is to determine whether your client is able to safely operate their scooter or power wheelchair. This could involve a physical assessment by a physician or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, depending on the nature of your client's disability as well as their current health. In certain situations your client will require a vehicle lift to be able to load and unload the mobility device at workplace, home, or community. Another aspect of safety is knowing the rules of the road. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, wheelchair users and drivers of cars, trucks or buses. This was a theme that was mentioned by most participants in the study. Some people learnt to drive their wheelchairs along sidewalks instead of driving through the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was designed for this purpose). Others drove more slowly and paid attention to pedestrians in an area that was crowded. The final and least preferred option was taking away a person's chair, which was seen as two-fold punishment that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facility and community activities. Diane and Harriet among others were among the participants who had their chairs removed. The participants also suggested that family members, and staff be informed about the proper use of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as which side to walk on in the hallway) and encouraging residents to practice driving when they leave and assisting them to recognize how their behavior affects the mobility of other people. Follow-Up A device that is powered by electricity can profoundly affect the ability of a child to function and take part in life. However, very little research has been conducted about the experience of children who are learning to use this equipment. This study employs a pre-post design to examine the effects of six months of experience using one of four early power mobility devices on a group of school-aged children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 parents and children's occupational and physical therapists. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes. The first theme, 'Power to move explained the ways that using a powered device affected more than just locomotor abilities. The experience of learning how to drive a motorized mobility device is usually an emotional and transformative experience. The second theme , 'There's no recipe book' showed that learning to make use of an equipment for mobility was a process that developed in a way that was cyclical over time. Therapists were required to decide what was appropriate based on each child's abilities and needs. In the post-training and training phases, therapists were required to have patience with parents and children. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to help families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the process of training. The third theme, “Shared space”, examined how the use of a power device can impact other people's interactions and lives. The majority of the participants in this study believed people should always show consideration for other users when using a mobility device. This was especially relevant when driving on public roads. Many participants also reported that they had 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 not yielded right-of-way. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that short-term power mobility and socialization training is possible for preschoolers with CP in certain classroom environments. Future research should continue to investigate the effectiveness of training and outcomes of this kind of intervention with young children with CP. This could eventually lead to more standard training protocols for children suffering from CP.