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Power Mobility and Safety Concerns Power mobility improves participation in daily activities as well as activities for people who are in long-term care. However, the devices could also create safety concerns which need to be addressed. The majority of participants opt to adopt a teleological perspective and give all residents the opportunity to test a device, rather than exclude residents with specific diagnoses which could be considered an unfair risk management. Mobility A power mobility device allows those with limited ability to move about their homes or communities and participate in daily living activities that are otherwise impossible for them. However, these devices can also pose a risk for the person using them as well as other individuals who share their space or space. Occupational therapists must be aware of the safety needs of each client before making recommendations regarding powered mobility. In an exploratory study (von Zweck, 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities within the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their use of power mobility. The goal was to create a framework that could allow the use of power mobility that is centered on the needs of the client. The findings revealed four main themes: (1) power mobility meaning, (2) learning road rules, (3) red flags security concerns, and (4) solutions. Power mobility can boost the quality of life of people with limited mobility. This is because it allows them to take part in daily activities at home as well as in the community. Self-care, productive and recreational occupations are vital for physical and mental well-being of the elderly. For many who suffer from chronic illnesses, power mobility offers a way to participate in these vital activities. Most participants found it unacceptable to remove a resident's chair, as this would cause a major disruption in their life story or course of action, and ultimately stop them from continuing to engage in the same activities they were doing prior to their disease progression. This was especially applicable to those in Facility 1 who had been allowed to use their power chairs for a brief period and now relied on others to push them. Another solution would be to slow down the speed at which residents drive their chairs. However this could cause several issues, including privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away the wheelchair from a resident's. Safety Power mobility allows people to move more freely. They can also take part in a wider range of activities and run around on their own. With electric wheel scooter comes a higher risk of accidents. These accidents could result in serious injuries for some. This is why it is important to consider the safety of your client prior to suggesting they use a power mobility. The first step in determining safety is to determine whether your client is able to safely operate their scooter or power wheelchair. Depending on their impairment and the condition of their current health, this might involve a physical assessment by a doctor or occupational therapist, as well as an interview with a mobility expert to determine if a particular device is appropriate for them. In some cases, 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 an additional aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other pedestrians, other wheelchair users, and drivers of trucks, cars or buses. The majority of participants in the study discussed this topic. For some, this meant learning to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks, instead of driving through busy areas or over curbs (unless specifically designed to do such). 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 to remove a person's chair, which was viewed as a two-fold penalty that would result in losing mobility independently and preventing access to facilities and community activities. Diane and Harriet, among others, were among the participants who had their chairs removed. The participants also suggested that residents, family members, and staff members be educated on the safe use of power mobility. This could include teaching the basics of driving (such as which side to walk on in the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving while outside, and helping them understand how their behavior affects the mobility of others. Follow-Up A power mobility device can profoundly affect the child's ability to function and participate in life. There has been little research on the experiences children go through when they first learn to use these devices. This study employs a pre-post design to examine the impact of six months of use 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 revealed three main themes. The first, 'Power and mobility explained the ways in which powered devices affected more than just motor skills. The process of learning to drive a motorized mobility device is often an emotional and transformative experience. The second theme, 'There's no such thing as a cookbook,' revealed that learning to utilize a power mobility device was a bespoke process that unfolded over time in a cyclical manner. Therapists were required to discover the most appropriate solution for each child's needs and abilities. Throughout the training and post-training phases, therapists were expected to be patient with children and parents. Therapists and parents alike spoke of the need to assist families celebrate their successes and solve problems associated with the process of training. Finally, the third theme”Shared space was a look at how the use of an electric device can influence the lives of other people and their interactions. The majority of those who participated in this study believed that people must always be considerate of other users when using a mobility device. This is particularly true when driving in public spaces. Participants also shared that they had seen situations in which property belonging to someone else was damaged due to the use a power mobility device, or a person has been injured by a driver who did not yield the right of way. The results of this study show that power mobility and socialization training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in a variety of classroom settings. Future research should be focused on the effects of training and results of this type of intervention for young children with CP. This will hopefully lead more standard training protocols for children who have CP.