Driving Safety of the Older Adult

Not all changes that occur with age indicate an individual is not able to drive. Participate in this module to understand common reasons which warrant a recommendation for a comprehensive driving evaluation. Learn how to screen and assess older drivers at risk for unsafe driving, enhance older drivers’ driving safety and help older adults ease the transition to driving retirement.

Authors
Peggy Barco, OTD, BSW, MS, OTR/L, SCDCM, CDRS
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Medicine
Program in Occupational Therapy
Washington University in St. Louis

Valerie Gruss PhD, APN, CNP-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor
College of Nursing
Director, ENGAGE-IL
University of Illinois at Chicago

Authors’ Bios
Dr. Peggy P. Barco is an Assistant Professor at Washington University Medical School Program in Occupational Therapy and Department of Medicine (St. Louis). Dr. Barco, a seasoned driving rehabilitation specialist, is an investigator whose funded research and clinical interests focus on fitness to drive in at-risk medical populations As a clinician, researcher, and faculty member she is very aware of the current needs related to older drivers with cognitive impairment and focused on developing evidence based solutions to address the concerns.

Dr. Valerie Gruss is Clinical Assistant Professor in the UIC College of Nursing. She is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with a broad range of clinical expertise and research experience working in primary care and with multidisciplinary teams in a variety of settings. Dr. Gruss’ position at UIC blends her roles as researcher, clinician and educator.

In 2015, Dr. Gruss was awarded a $2.5 million three year grant through the HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), to create an interprofessional education program for improving the care of older adults. Additionally, $100,000 per year was awarded to Dr. Gruss’ research in Alzheimer’s and associated dementias. She and her team have launched a free mobile app, Dementia Guide Expert for families, available on iOS and Android. In 2016, Dr. Gruss was awarded the GAPNA “Excellence in Research Award”.

Dr. Gruss is clinical consultant/research collaborator on a Federal Demonstration Project for the State of Illinois, “Money Follows the Person”, which transitions eligible seniors out of nursing homes and back to the community. She was awarded the UIC College of Nursing’s ‘2010 Faculty Practice Award’ and was honored with the “Best Care Practices in the Geriatrics Continuum” award by the American Medical Directors Association, 2008.

Dr. Gruss teaches in the UIC College of Nursing graduate nursing program. In pursuit of changing current nursing education to a more interdisciplinary model, she jointly founded the “Collaborative for Excellence in Interprofessional Education”(CEIPE). This group of volunteer faculty represents over 10 disciplines, providing students with interprofessional immersion experiences. Dr. Gruss serves on the UIC Vice Chancellors’ IPE Steering Committee to move the UIC IPE strategic plan forward. In 2016 Dr. Gruss was awarded the UIC “Teaching Recognition Program Award”.

Editor:
Memoona Hasnain MD, MHPE, PhD
Professor and Associate Department Head, Faculty Development & Research
College of Medicine,
Department of Family Medicine
Co-Director, ENGAGE-IL
University of Illinois at Chicago

Duration: 30 minutes
Format: Video Stream & pdfs
CEU Value: 0.5

Handout – One Slide Per Page

Handout – Three Slides Per Page

Resources and References

In support of patient care, Rush University Medical Center is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Rush University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of (0.50) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is being presented without bias and without commercial support.

ANCC Credit Designation – Nurses
The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is 0.50 contact hours.

Rush University is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000272), occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, social work (159.001203), nutrition, speech-audiology, and psychology by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Rush University designates this live activity for (0.50) Continuing Education credit(s).

Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge based CPE activity for 0.50 contact hours for pharmacists.

Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to:

Identify common reasons that warrant a recommendation for a comprehensive driving evaluation
Review evidence-based screening and assessments that identify impairments which can put older adults at risk for unsafe driving
Discuss interventions and remediation available for older adults to enhance their driving safety
Recognize evidence-based recommendations to ease the transition to driving retirement

For technical support, please notify engage@engageil.com.

To report a complaint, please contact the ENGAGE-IL Program Help Desk at engageIL@engageil.com.

This ENGAGE-IL learning activity fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA and the rules and regulations thereof. Learners with special needs can make requests for accommodation at any time by sending e-mail to engageIL@engageil.com.