Jane Fontein
OT, Clinical Specialist, PDG

Are you still trying to improve your skills at a particular sport or activity? For most of us the answer is YES. The same question and answer applies to the aging population but unfortunately they are not always given the opportunity. Mobility devices can limit independent mobility instead of increasing mobility.

Discussion will revolve around features of wheelchairs and how they impact the function and mobility for the user. Goals for aging population and the possibilities for increasing the function and independence will be reviewed. A clinical reasoning worksheet will be presented which is a tool that can be used to assist clinicians and clients to go from assessment, to goals, to product features, to final product options and to outcome measures.

Case studies will be used to demonstrate the use of the worksheet to assist therapists in prescribing wheelchairs by features rather than by product name.