Older driver safety is focus of awareness week

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is raising awareness of safe travel for older adults during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (December 2-6, 2019).

The week aims to promote understanding of the importance of mobility and transportation to ensuring older adults remain active in the community—shopping, working or volunteering—with the confidence that transportation will not be a barrier to strand them at home.

AOTA says that occupational therapy practitioners have the skills to evaluate a person’s overall ability to operate a vehicle safely and provide rehabilitation, if necessary. Many are specially trained in the full scope of driving rehabilitation.

Throughout the week, AOTA will bring attention to a different aspect of older driver safety.

• Monday: “Anticipating Changes That Can Affect Driving”
• Tuesday: “Family Conversations”
• Wednesday: “Screening and Evaluations With an Occupational Therapist”
• Thursday: “Interventions That Can Empower Drivers and Families”
• Friday: “Staying Engaged in the Community With or Without a Car”

Visit the AOTA website for more information.