Older Driver Safety Awareness Week 2012

[responsive] [/responsive]The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is declaring December 3^rd-December 7^th 2012 Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. The overall purpose of dedicating a week to older driver safety is to empower older drivers and their families. The concern for older drivers’ safety and independence has increased over the past couple of years. More than 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 years old each day, and that trend is expected to continue for the next 19 years. By the year 2040, 1 in 5 Americans will be 70 years old or older.

Occupational therapists play a key role in evaluating and determining a person’s overall ability to operate a vehicle.  Occupational therapists also provide rehabilitation and adaptions to help the person continue to drive, and provide options for maintaining independence if driving is no longer possible. If you don’t think you should be driving a vehicle, or you think a loved one should not be operating a vehicle, it is best to consult a licensed and certified occupational therapists.

Throughout the week, AOTA will be providing resources on the different aspects of older driver safety. Here is the list of topics for each day:

Monday- Identifying changes that can affect driving

Tuesday- Family conversations

Wednesday- Screening and evaluations with an occupational therapist

Thursday- Equipment that can empower drivers

Friday- Taking changes in stride

AOTA isn’t the only organization raising awareness about older driver safety. They have teamed up with AAA, AARP, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., and many other organizations. These organizations have formed dedicated websites to raise awareness about older driver safety. Help spread the word about older driver safety week by sharing this post.

Source: AOTA