Deaconess Assns. Foundation initiative aids driving assessment and cessation for seniors

Senior citizens are invited to attend “A Safe Drive Through the Aging Process,” a seminar on senior driving assessment and cessation on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Scarlet Oaks Retirement Community in Clifton. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m., with the seminar at 1 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited, so RSVPs are required. To reserve a place, contact Rob Smith at (513) 475-4203.

The event will be presented by the Beyond Driving with Dignity program, a senior citizens health initiative sponsored by Deaconess Associations Foundation (DAF). The Beyond Driving with Dignity program is designed to help older drivers and their families stay safe and work through the complicated issue of assessing age-related, diminishing driving skills.

“This is a great opportunity learn about our program and how seniors can comfortably work with us to assess their driving skills to make certain they stay safe on the road,” said Nancy Schuster, executive director of the Independent Transportation Network of Greater Cincinnati (ITNGC). ITNGC is a 24-hour transportation service for senior citizens (age 60+) and visually-impaired adults. Volunteer drivers provide transportation anywhere within the I-275 highway loop.

Driving is a last bastion of independence for many senior citizens. Deciding when to hang up the car keys can be an emotional decision— but it’s one Beyond Driving with Dignity helps older adults address in a non-confrontational way. “Sometimes a senior just needs an adaptive device and can continue to drive safely,” said Schuster. “The program helps seniors do a sensitive, non-emotional self-assessment without family members nearby, and reports back to loved ones based on the facts of today.”

Research on age-related driving concerns shows that at around the age of 65, drivers face an increased risk of being involved in a vehicle crash. After the age of 75, the risk of driver fatality increases sharply, perhaps because older drivers are more vulnerable to both crash-related injury and death. Beyond Driving with Dignity and ITNGC are DAF initiatives.

DAF helps older adults experience more vibrant, active and fulfilling lives by providing and supporting programs and resources for senior citizens aging in place. It is an affiliate of Deaconess Associations, Inc. which owns and operates Deaconess Long Term Care facilities in Ohio, Kansas and Missouri, and the Heimlich Institute, dedicated to using the creative portion of our minds in medicine and in life.

FullLife (www.LiveFull.org), Independent Transportation Network of Greater Cincinnati (www.itngreatercincinnati.org) and Beyond Driving with Dignity are DAF-supported initiatives. For more information about DAF programs and resources for senior citizens aging in place, go to www.DeaconessFoundation.org or www.LiveFull.org. # # #