OTTAWA, May 17, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - In celebration of National Road Safety Week, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is proud to have developed a new resource for older drivers, their families and healthcare professionals that include an Older Driver's Safety website and a new series of brochures entitled "Keeping on the go: Driving safely as you age."
Valuable information on safe driving strategies and planning for driving retirement can be found in translated brochures in English, French, Italian, Punjabi, and Chinese (simplified and traditional).
CAOT is dedicated to keeping seniors behind the wheel for as long as possible. Driving increases the opportunity to be involved within the community and is a contributor to quality-of-life giving seniors a sense of wellbeing. For example, Statistic Canada reported that seniors with a driver's license were twice as likely to volunteer as those without a driver's license. Older driver safety is an important issue and Canadian seniors from diverse cultures deserve to have tailored information that might encourage them to continue driving.
Occupational therapists can evaluate driving abilities, help find alternative transportation and develop driving rehabilitation programs. These professionals have taken a leadership position in regard to driving rehabilitation services because of their expertise in assessing the interaction between the person, the environment and the occupation. Occupational therapists are highly trained professionals who work with anyone who is having difficulty doing the activities that are important to them.
Production of these brochures had been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
