|
|
|
Fit to Drive?
As part of its ongoing IN Place series, the University of Indianapolis Center
for Aging & Community will host "Medical Fitness to Drive in Aging & Dementia," on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 in Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana.
Thomas M. Meuser, PhD, a presenter for the American Medical Association Older Drivers Project, will highlight the roles physicians, other healthcare providers, and family members have in determining an older person's fitness to drive.
Time and location information is to the right. IN Place events are free, but reservations are requested by October 2 to Lidia Dubicki at (317) 791-5930.
2007-2007 IN Place Series Presenting Sponsor
|
IN PLACE:
Medical Fitness to Drive
in Aging & Dementia
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
University of Indianapolis
Good Hall, 8-10:00am
Hanna Avenue &
Otterbein Road
Continental breakfast provided.
Richmond Senior Center
1-2:30pm
1600 S. 2nd Street
Co-hosted by Area 9
In-Home and Community Services Agency |
Driving in the later years
As age increases, older drivers become more conservative on the road and try to match their driving with their declining capabilities. Many older drivers modify their driving habits by:
- Driving fewer miles
- Driving familiar routes for specific tasks
- Driving in daylight only
- Avoiding busy congested roads and highways
- Avoiding driving in bad weather
The risk of driver fatality increases sharply because older drivers are more vulnerable to both crash-related injury and death. Although advanced age alone does not lead to increased crashes, the physical condition of an older individual can lead to a greater number of crash-related injuries or death.
According to I.D. Ferguson, M.D., human factors that contribute to more crashes among older adults are:
- Reduced dynamic visual acuity
- Slower reaction time
- Reduced dynamic perception
- Difficulties with tasks requiring divided attention
- Declining ability to adapt to darkness
- Information processing declines with memory loss
This in turn can lead to:
- Not obeying signage
- Judgment errors in making left turns
- Going through lights
- Misjudging right of way when merging or passing
If older drivers are denied driving privileges, their quality of life may be compromised. They may feel helpless and may perceive others to believe the same. They may suffer a loss of privacy and may consider themselves to be a burden to others. Their risk of isolation and depression may increase without dependable transportation. |
|
|
|
How aging service providers can help older drivers
Providers and supporters of elder-friendly communities can help ensure safer driving for older adults by:
- Working toward improved road conditions, signage and lighting to accommodate declining abilities
- Providing or sponsoring training to maintain/improve driving skills
- Ensuring an alternate form of transportation
- Helping drivers, their families or caregivers find out if driving skills are a problem by encouraging them to have an assessment done of driving ability.
Vocational rehabilitation centers such as Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis, local services such as
Memorial Hospital in South Bend,
Columbus Regional Hospital and
The Rehabilitation Center in Evansville all provide driving evaluations.
In addition, older adults should be encouraged to ask their physicians to assess skills and conditions that may affect driving ability.
For drivers who just needs to sharpen their skills, AAA offers Roadwise Review and AARP
sponsors driver safety courses, including an online course. |
|
|
|
|
Aging Network News
Indiana Mentor recruiting adult foster care providers - In cooperation with the Indiana Division of Aging through the Aged and Disabled Waiver, Indiana Mentor is currently developing services to support seniors in Adult Family Care (AFC) to allow the service recipient to live as independently as possible. A daily stipend is available for individuals or families willing to open their homes to a senior or an adult living with a disability. For more information, contact
Carrie Hobbs Guiden at (317) 208-7737.
HHS announces $8.8 million for new nursing home diversion programs - The U.S Department of
Health and Human Services has announced an $8.8 million investment to help states provide more affordable choices to individuals struggling to remain in their homes and communities as they age. The Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants Program will help enable states to use existing Older Americans Act and state revenue funds in a more flexible manner so that a greater range of support options can be made available to individuals who are at high risk of nursing home placement. These grants will also enable states to give consumers a greater role in determining the types of services and the manner in which they receive them.
For more information about the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grants Program, visit: www.aoa.gov/press/pr/2007/September/9_24_07.asp
Clinical trial participants wanted - The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Indiana is embarking on a initiative to find clinical trial participants. You can encourage your clients and their loved ones to find trial information by calling 1-800-982-8299 or logging on to www.alz.org
and clicking on "Participate in Clinical Trials," located toward the bottom of the home page.
2007 Home Care Pulse Report - South Bend-based Press Ganey Associates, Inc. recently issued the 2007 Home Care Pulse Report: Patient Perspectives on American Healthcare, which examines the experiences of more than 282,000 patients receiving care from home health organizations and medical equipment providers across the country. To read the report, go to
www.pressganey.com/homecare-report.pdf |
|
|
Mark your calendar
Free Concert - Seniors you serve may be interested in attending the University of Indianapolis Symphonic Wind Ensemble's "Salute to Sousa!" The concert commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of John Philip Sousa will be held on Sunday, October 7 at 4pm in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center at the University of Indianapolis. Admission is free to the public.
Elders at the Table: A Community Planning Initiative - The Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community will host an Elders at the Table Community Roundtable on Wednesday, October 10 from 8-11am at the Gene B. Glick Junior Achievement Center, 7404 N. Keystone Ave., Indianapolis. Learn about findings from a
recent study of Central Indiana meal and nutrition programs and help shape a meal delivery infrastructure that will meet the current and future needs of both providers and seniors. RSVP to Lidia Dubicki at (317) 791-5930 by Wednesday, October 3.
White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives - This free conference, to be held at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott on November 5 & 6, will help faith-based and community organizations learn more about President Bush's FB&C Initiative, the federal grants process and funding opportunities, and the basic legal responsibilities that come with federal funding. Pre-registration is required by October 29. Visit
www.fbci.gov to register online or call (202) 456-6708 to have a registration form faxed to you.
Aging in America 2008 - Join the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging in Washington, DC from March 27-30, 2008 to network with colleagues, learn about best practices and gain insights to help you work better and effect change in your community. Visit www.agingconference.org for more information. |
|
|
|
Grants to go for
RGK Foundation - awards grants in the broad areas of education, community and medicine/health to nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 170(c) organizations. There is no deadline for submitting an electronic letter of inquiry. Inquiry letters are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Grant seekers will either receive an e-mail decline or an invitation to submit a formal application packet. Awards up to $25,000. For more information, visit
www.rgkfoundation.org
Public Welfare Foundation - supports organizations that address human needs in disadvantaged communities. Most grants are between $25,000 and $50,000. For more information, log onto www.publicwelfare.org.
|
|
|
|
Have news to share?
If you have an idea or suggestion for the IANA e-news, or if your organization has an announcement you would like published, please contact Amy Magan at amagan@uindy.edu or (317) 791-5933. Announcements should be no more than 200 words and should be applicable to aging service providers. All submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity.
The IANA e-news is published monthly by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community. |
|
|
University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community
901 S. Shelby Street Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 791-5930 PHONE (317) 791-5945 FAX http://cac.uindy.edu
|
|
|
