Page 13 - Mobility Management, January/February 2022

a few people — we’re kind of tempering to see what happens a little bit — with manual wheelchairs as original prescriptions that are now considering whether they need a power mobility option because they just don’t have the endurance. Is that COVID related? Yes, globally. But it could just be from a sedentary life- style for 22 months.
“It’s probably everything. It’s hard to separate it out. They’re still able to do certain things, and they still can’t get over the psychological shock of going from a 15-lb. ultralight to a 400-lb. power wheelchair. They’re not sure they want to make that commitment yet, or they want to see: Does [their new condition] resolve in another three or four months? Everybody I’ve seen has identified the issue and is going to remain status quo until they cannot remain status quo anymore.”
And as CRT professionals continue to take care of clients, Carver emphasized that the industry needs to practice self-care as well. “We’re all focused on our end users that are dealing with the pandemic,” she said. “But I think we also should acknowledge that all of our various disciplines of healthcare are carrying their own weight coming into the clinic.
“They’ve got family members they’re worried about. They have their own children they’re worried about: going to school, all the things going on, and then they have to come ready to
work with those folks. So just an acknowledgment of the stress that people feel.”
Current events, Carver said, have changed her approach in clinic. “I’ve begun to practice getting better at checking on people emotionally. Now each patient that comes in, we get to know each other a little bit and I’ll say, ‘So how are you doing with all the stresses and strains of this pandemic?’ Some will say, ‘Well, you know, day by day.’ Or, ‘I’m doing okay.’ Or, ‘Man, it’s really hard, you know?’ And I say, ‘If it gets too hard, please talk to your doctor about getting some support, talking to a counselor, getting some material about how to handle different things.’
“If people become emotional, I go a little further and just encourage them: ‘If you are having thoughts like I don’t think I can handle this anymore, this is too big for me, I wish I were not here, then you have to promise me you will speak up before you do anything,’ and I make them promise me.”
Carver admits this is new for her... just as this new world is requiring new processes from everyone. “I would’ve never done that pre-pandemic or at least been uncomfortable,” she said.
“I think every discipline of healthcare is going to need to get comfortable talking to people about their emotional and mental places as we ebb and flow through things so that we can catch people at stages that they can get the help they need.” m
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