Susan Pierce of the American Occupational Therapy Association advises Kent Milton of the California Highway Patrol on use of adaptive equipment at a CarFit session in Sacramento, Calif.

With a burgeoning population of older adults, the United States is seeing a tremendous increase in the numbers of older drivers on the nation's roads and highways -- and this trend will only accelerate in coming years. Working in collaboration with other national stakeholders in the field, the American Society on Aging has taken a lead in responding to this development. The result is two innovative initiatives designed to help practitioners strengthen the behind-the-wheel skills and performance of older adults:

• Continuing for a third year through funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ASA's DriveWell program provides train-the-trainer sessions to promote driving wellness initiatives for older adults. Offering a variety of presentation scripts along with a discussion video, the training makes it easy for participants to tailor the program to their communities. Sessions focus on physical and mental fitness, medication management, healthy sleep habits and routine healthcare as keys to helping elders drive safely. Planning for retirement from driving also is addressed.
  
  Through the services of 10 national trainers, the DriveWell program is available free of charge to communities interested in hosting a training for local practitioners. In fall 2006 and spring 2007, ASA will offer 40 DriveWell train-the-trainer sessions around the country. For more information or to apply for a training at your organization, contact ASA special projects staffer Betsy Dorsett at betsyd@asaging.org.
  
  
• ASA will launch a second older-driver initiative, CarFit, in the spring. Developed in collaboration with the American Automobile Association, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, CarFit helps older drivers adapt their personal vehicles for safer and easier driving and promotes conversations about driver safety and community mobility. As with DriveWell, CarFit will offer train-the-trainer sessions that will prepare participants to present CarFit programs in their own communities. For more information, visit the CarFit website.

Copyright © 2007 American Society on Aging; all rights reserved. This article may not be duplicated or distributed in any form without written permission from the publisher: American Society on Aging, 833 Market St., Suite 511, San Francisco, CA 94103-1824; e-mail: permissions@asaging.org.