OTAC Supports Older Driver Safety Initiatives for Occupational Therapists
Article prepared for the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) Newsletter, Summer 2005
As Californias baby boomers begin retiring, they will seek ways to maintain their driving skills and improve their mobility so they can remain active, independent, and vital community members. Occupational therapists play a critical role in helping older adults achieve these goals. Therefore, OTAC participates in several new and ongoing statewide initiatives that support and promote this emerging OT practice area.
OTAC and the Older Californian Traffic Safety Task Force
OTAC has been an active member of the Older Californian Traffic Safety (OCTS) Task Force for several years. OTAC Executive Director Chuck Strauch and Past President Brenda Collins serve on the task force, which is a statewide collaborative led by the California Highway Patrol. The group promotes older driver and pedestrian safety by implementing train-the-trainer programs, policies, and public information activities.
Building Capacity for California OTs
OTAC also is collaborating on two new efforts by the Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice (CIPPP) and the State and Local Injury Control Section (SLIC) of the California Department of Health Services. These programs, funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety, encourage Californias OTs to address driving issues in their practices and provide them with needed information and training. The programs also seek to build community support and referral networks that make it practical and profitable for OTs to address driving issues.
The first of these initiatives involves creating a report that explains the barriers Californias OTs face when they try to address driving safety and mobility issues in their practices. The report will also examine creative solutions and training that help OTs overcome these barriers.
OTAC participated in this project by helping CIPPP organize OT focus groups to gather information. The report is scheduled to be released by August 2005.
The second program seeks to build capacity by helping Californias OTs, nurse practitioners, and physicians improve at screening, assessing, counseling, and referring older patients who may be at high risk for driving problems. Initiatives include:
developing and promoting educational modules;
providing trainings throughout California;
evaluating the current health care systems capacity to address driving safety and mobility issues;
creating an advanced practice certification for California OTs at San Jose State University; and
launching a comprehensive website resource (www.eldersafety.org) about safe mobility that provides specific information and online trainings for Californias health care providers.
CIPPP and SLIC have hired two OTAC members, Brian Monty OTR/L, CHT, and Kimber Carter-Glick OTR/L, CDRS, DI, to work with them on this initiative. OTAC member Farrell Sheffield, OTR/L, CDRS, serves on the projects advisory committee.
In addition to working with OTAC, CIPPP and SLIC have brought together a great team to move this initiative forward. Participants include San Jose State Universitys Occupational Therapy Department, the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, and the Preventive Medicine Residency Program at the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University.
CarFit Program
Several new national programs also can help OTs get involved in community safe driving efforts. CarFit is an innovative new program from AOTA, the American Society on Aging, AARP, and the Auto Club. It provides a service in which trained volunteers and an OT evaluate seniors in their cars on how well they fit in their vehicles. Some of the issues on the evaluation checklist include:
- Is the seatbelt on and positioned correctly?
- Is the senior too close to the steering wheel?
- Can the individual see over the wheel?
After the assessment is complete, the OT can then refer the senior to a specialist for further evaluation and training, or can recommend simple modifications based on the checklist.
This is just one example of a new community initiative that promotes the OTs role in older driver safety. This program is currently being pilot tested, but will be available across the country in late 2005.
Want More Info?
For more information on any of these programs please visit www.eldersafety.org or contact CIPPP and SLIC Program Coordinator Patti Yanochko, MPH, at pyanochko@projects.sdsu.edu or 530-342-6803.
- A member of the Injury Prevention Web family of sites. Copyright ©2005. Funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
