In This Issue:

1. The Transportation Connection
2. Transportation Modes
3. Aging and Transportation
4. Aging Can Affect Transportation Independence
5. Assistive Driving Devices Can Prolong Safe Driving
6. The First Step on the Road to Happiness
7. Disabled Parking Programs
8. Internet Resources

This month's SAFE Aging newsletter theme is Transportation. Read about the Transportation Connection, Transportation Modes, Aging and Transportation, and Aging Can Affect Transportation Independence. Learn how an OT can help and how to adjust to prolong safe aging. See some assistive devices that can be used to prolong safe driving. Take a look at the fabulous Pedors shoes we found at the MedTrade Orlando conference last month. Learn about disabled parking permits and how to get them.

Happy Holidays and Stay SAFE!!!

1. The Transportation Connection

Transportation is necessary for survival and quality of life. Examples of survival activities that depend on transportation are:

• Medical trips (doctors and pharmacies)

• Shopping

• Banking

• Work

• Group dining sites

• And other essential errands

Desired activities that make life pleasant and interesting and improve the quality of life include:

• Recreation such as going to concerts, theaters, movies, dancing, ball games, racetracks, etc.

• Social trips like visiting with family and friends

• Religious activities such as attending church and church related events

• Volunteer activities

• Educational programs

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2. Transportation Modes

There are many ways to be transported or connected from one place to another. They include independent methods such as:

• Walking

• Driving a vehicle (car, scooter, motorcycle, truck, motor home, golf cart, etc)

• Riding a bicycle

• Roller skating

• Riding a horse, etc

• Propelling a wheel chair

There are also alternative transportation options where others do the driving such as:

• Riding as a passenger in a bus, taxi, train or car

• Flying on a plane

No matter which method is used, the need to be connected never stops. Transportation options can be creative and do not always require driving.

Read "Getting By Without Driving" for more information.

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3. Aging and Transportation

As individuals age, changes in vision, physical strength and cognition can contribute to a loss of self-confidence and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. This can lead to giving up or losing a drivers license as well as driving a vehicle.

Faced with this situation, some older adults risk personal injury rather than give up their driver’s license. The problem is unsafe driving increases the risk of accidental deaths and serious injuries not only to the driver but to innocent victims such as passengers, other motorists and pedestrians.

Advanced planning to cope with age related changes can make the difference between life and death or serious injuries for the driver and others.

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4. Aging Can Affect Transportation Independence

According to many national research efforts, senior's preferred method of transportation is driving a car. The car as a mode of transportation offers the greatest amount of independence, comfort and flexibility.

Driving a car requires excellent vision, physical and mental skills. Normal age related changes may include any combination of losses in:

• vision

• strength

• coordination

• memory

• joint range of motion

• endurance

• health

Any such change can reduce transportation independence. When age or health related changes affect safe driving, transportation alternatives have to be used for personal safety and the safety of others.

Here are some recommendations to prepare for the need to use alternative transportation options.

Recommendations

1. Plan ahead with family and friends for future transportation needs.

2. Identify transportation options in your community

1. Contact Area Agency on Aging http://www.n4a.org/links.cfm

2. Contact AOA's Eldercare Locator Service www.eldercare.gov.

3. Get familiar and try local transportation services while health and physical skills are good.

4. Participate in your community's metropolitan planning organizations (A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is a transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation authorities.)

5. Be an advocate for senior transportation services.

6. Be prepared to modify your lifestyle when independent transportation is no longer safety possible.

7. Before giving up your license, seek the professional advice of an occupational therapist or certified driving rehabilitation specialist. Both are able to help.

How Can an Occupational Therapist (OT) help?
An OT can do the following:

• Evaluate to determine any physical, visual, or cognitive limitations that could affect ability to drive.

• Conduct an on-the-road driving test to determine how problems identified in the evaluation affect a person’s ability to drive safely.

• Provide training to driver's that improve or prolong the ability to drive safely.

• Recommend assistive driving devices to make driving easier or safer.

• Provide training on how to use assistive driving devices.

• Help to identify alternate forms of transportation when driving is no longer an option.

• Consultation with friends and family about driving abilities and activities they can do to help.

• Assist the driver who is no longer able to drive to identify meaningful activities that do not require driving.

The above article was modified from the American Occupational Therapy Association's Tips for Living: Keeping Older Drivers Safe. 

To read more about older driver safety, visit http://www1.aota.org/olderdriver/

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5. Assistive Driving Devices Can Prolong Safe Driving

Don't give up driving without consulting an occupational therapist (OT) first. The OT can help to identify assistive driving devices that can prolong safe driving. Assistive devices can make driving tasks easier or safer. Such devices have been developed to help people who have physical or sensory challenges such as may occur with arthritis, paralysis, loss of strength or coordination, etc.

Here are some products and resources to purchase them:

Car Caddie

Great for arthritic knees, limited strength!

This unique product offers you a helping hand getting in or out of a car, van, or truck. Made of quality nylon construction, the car caddie loops around your car window and adjusts for varying heights of vehicle windows, to meet your needs. Just pull on the comfortable cushion grip when you need assistance in or out of your vehicle.

Cost:$19.95
The Wright Stuff, Inc. - Arthritis Supplies
1-877-750-0376
 

Key Turners

Provide increased leverage to turn a key.

A key turner is ideal for people with limited hand strength or coordination due to arthritis or carpal tunnel or finger amputations. These heavy-duty key turners provide increased leverage to turn a key with a comfortable grip. Fold keys into handle when not in use.

Cost: $8.95
The Wright Stuff, Inc. - Arthritis Supplies
1-877-750-0376

Auto Handy Bar

Provides assistance to get in and out of car.

This handy gadget is great for anyone having difficulty getting in or out of the car. The Auto Handy Bar is a stainless steel bar with a non-slip hand grip that fits into the space where the car door latches. When this is locked in, the Auto Handy Bar can be used just like an armrest or safety bar to provide support when getting up or when sitting down. It is easy to store and carry. This gadget is also a seat belt cutter and can be used as a side window breaker. There is a weight limit of 350 lbs. It is really useful for people who have hip or knee pain due to arthritis or anyone with limited strength.

Cost: $44.95
The Wright Stuff, Inc. - Arthritis Supplies
1-877-750-0376
 

Gas cap wrench

Just place wrench over cap and turn.

Helps decrease joint stress for arthritis sufferers, while making fueling up safer by protecting from harmful gas fumes and splashback. Latex free.

Cost: $16.95
Sammons Preston
1-800-323-5547
 

Easy Reach Seat Belt Handle

Help for anyone with limited reach.

This handy device allows the user who has limited shoulder motion or reach to grasp seat belt. The handle length is approximately 5½" long. Overall length is 9¼". Glow-in-the-dark material offers high visibility at night. Latex free.

Cost: $8.49
Sammons Preston
1-800-323-5547

These are just a few of many, many useful gadgets to assist a person who is having difficulty with a driving task. Keep watch on our site, www.safeaging.com,  for new assistive driving products.
 

6. The First Step on the Road to Happiness

"The first step on the road to happiness should begin with healthy feet." That is the first statement on the Pedors.com website. This company takes great pride in knowing they provide the very best in orthopedic shoes - for men, women and children. I had an occasion to see and test a Pedors shoe while at the MedTrade in Orlando last month.

The various Pedors shoes were comfortable, good looking, lightweight and supportive. There were many styles to choose from, each meeting a different need. For example, there are shoes recommended for people who have arthritis, bunions, hammertoes, peripheral neuropathy, edema, swollen feet, heel spurs, diabetes, etc.

I gotta say, if walking is your mode of transportation, then take a look at a Pedors shoe. It works if you want comfort or if you have a special foot need. For more information, visit  www.pedors.com.

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7. Disabled Parking Programs

A disabled parking program allows individuals with long-term or permanent disabilities and persons or organizations that drive for disabled persons to apply for a 4 year parking permit. An individual may legally park in a space designated for disabled parking. The permit is transferable to any vehicle transporting the disabled person.

Florida Eligibility Criteria

An individual who is:

• Certified as legally blind

• Unable to walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or other assistive device, or without assistance of another person.

• Meets specific requirements for restrictions by lung disease as measured by spirometry.

• Uses portable oxygen.

• Restricted by cardiac condition to the extent that functional limitations are classified as Class III or Class IV by standards set by the American Heart Association.

• Has severe limitations in the ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological or orthopedic conditions.

Applying for Disability Parking Permit in Florida

1. Find Form HSMV 83039 in printable PDF format on the Florida Department of Safety and Motor Vehicles web site, www.hsmv.state.fl.us.

2. Another way to access this site is by using the My Florida (state) web site, www.myflorida.com. At the top of the My Florida home page, click on Find an Agency, then on Highway Safety and MV, followed by On-line Forms and Disabled Parking Placard. This web site also lists local driver license offices and tax collection offices by county.

3. Pick up an application forms for the permit any local license plate (tag) agency (not driver license office unless it offers tax collection and tag services in the same location) or county tax collector office.

In Pinellas or Pasco County, Florida, you can obtain a list of locations with directions by calling the Senior Helpline at

Pinellas: 727-217-8111
Pasco: 1-800-861-8111

Applying for Disabled Parking Permit In Other States

For details specific to the State you live in or want to visit, check out the Department of Motor Vehicles in the State of your choice. Another option is to check the specific State government website.

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7. Internet Resources

• http://www.agingcarefl.org/caregiver/resources/PermitProgram

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_planning_organization

• www.myflorida.com

• www.hsmv.state.fl.us

• www.eldercare.gov.

• http://www.promoteot.org/docs/OlderDrivers.pdf

• http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/safe/safe-toc.htm

• http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/inb50_transport.pdf

• http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderDriversBook/pages/AppndxB-Getby.html

• http://www.promoteot.org/docs/OlderDrivers.pdf

• http://www.arthritissupplies.com/site/371928/product/AST415

• http://www.arthritissupplies.com/site/371928/product/ASN317

• http://www.sammonspreston.com/Supply/Product.asp?Leaf_Id=3204

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Wherever You Go! 
Carry Your Medical & Emergency Info!
www.MedicTag911.com

MedicTag is a portable digital medical alert device that plugs into a computer or laptop USB port and provides instant access to vital emergency info when needed the most.

Holiday Special!

Sale Price:  $34.95*
Regular Price: $39.95
*Offer good until Decemeber20, 2007

MedicTag makes a great holiday gift!

Article Submissions

We invite interested authors to submit theme based articles for the SAFE Aging newsletter. Please send submissions in either .doc or .rtf format, Ariel 10pt. font, and with a 300 word maximum. Articles should be written in an easy to read format to meet the needs of a varied readership including seniors, family members of seniors, caregivers and other senior service providers.  

Topics should in some way be related to health, safety or injury prevention. Articles may not be an advertisement for services and must be informative or helpful. Author photo and contact information may be included. 

There is no guarantee that submitted articles will be published. Generally, articles will be held until the appropriate monthly theme. All articles become the property of SAFE Aging and are subject to editing.

We now have advertising opportunities based on monthly, semi-annual or annual advertising rates. Please contact newsletter@safeaging.com for details.

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