Getting older does not necessarily mean a person’s driving days are over. But it is important to plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safety of your loved ones on the road. NHTSA offers free materials to help you learn more about how to recognize and discuss changes in your older loved one’s driving.

If you think you need to have a conversation with an older driver about his or her driving abilities, remember that many older drivers look at driving as a form of independence. Bringing up the subject of their driving abilities can make some drivers defensive. So, be prepared with your observations and questions, and – if necessary – provide possible transportation alternatives.

Answering the following questions may help you decide if you need to initiate a conversation with an older driver about driving safely:

- Getting lost on routes that should be familiar?
- Noticing new dents or scratches to the vehicle?
- Receiving a ticket for a driving violation?
- Experiencing a near miss or crash recently?
- Being advised to limit/stop driving due to a health reason?
- Overwhelmed by road signs and markings while driving?
- Taking any medication that might affect driving safely?
- Speeding or driving too slowly for no reason?
- Suffering of any illnesses that may affect driving skills?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might need to talk with an older driver about safe driving.

This article is courtesy of The National Highway and Traffic Administration. For more information visit their website at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

In Sarasota, there’s a Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education Program given by Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Designed to evaluate and improve driver safety, the Sarasota Memorial Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education program is coordinated by occupational therapists certified in driver evaluation and rehabilitation.

The program includes:
• Assessment of vision, thinking, visual perceptual, physical skills and reaction time
• Behind-the-wheel exercises in a customized driving program car, beginning in a parking lot and then advancing into more complex traffic. Behind-the-wheel assessments are performed in your community where the area is familiar.

Results of your assessment are sent to your referring physician for follow-up and referrals for further services if needed.

Re-Education & Training
The training and re-education program consists of in-vehicle education and practice in challenging situations, correction of unsafe habits and, if necessary, use of adaptive equipment to facilitate safer driving habits.

Referral
A physician referral requesting a driving assessment and listing a medical diagnosis is required for participation.

Information
We are unable to evaluate and treat people who are obtaining their license for the first time or who must drive while seated in a wheelchair. Individuals must be able to get into and out of a vehicle independently to participate in the program. For information, please call (941) 917-2183.

Functional Capacity Evaluations
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) safely and objectively measures:
• Repetitive lifting capacity at various levels
• Repetitive push, pull, and carrying capacities
• Hand grip strength
• Tolerance for elevated work
• Prolonged trunk flexion in sitting and standing
• Prolonged trunk rotation in sitting and standing
• Prolonged crawl, knee and sustained crouch positions
• Repetitive squat
• Tolerance for prolonged sitting and standing
• Maximum walking, stairs and stepladder capacity
• Balance
• Hand coordination

Results and recommendations are discussed with the patient and the referring physician before a program of rehabilitation is designed.

For more information, please call (941) 917-1385 or visit www.smh.com

If you or your loved one is experiencing difficulty with transportation, our caregivers are able to provide companionship, in-home care assistance and incidental transportation services to keep you or your loved ones at home as long as they possibly can. Transportation to doctor’s appointments, errands, social and personal appointments are travel -assisted by our qualified care providers such as certified nursing asssitants, home health aides or companions.

We provide services in Sarasota, Manatee and its’ neighboring towns such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Nokomis, Venice, and Osprey.

It is easier for people with disability or special needs to maintain physically and socially active in today’s society. Many people with disabilities now use scooters and wheelchairs to assist them in their transportation needs.

In addition,  with modern technology, people can now be transported in a specially equipped vans or public transportation vans designed for the handicapped and wheelchair dependent clients. Majority of public places such as restaurants, shopping malls, airport and supermarket are designed to accommodate people with disabilities which makes it more satisfying and comfortable for disabled people to come.

If a senior is ill or hospitalized, the case manager will initially arrange for non-emergency transportation if you require wheelchair or stretcher when you leave the hospital or rehab facility. When admitted to a nursing home,  rehabilitation facility or assisted living facility, a person may also need to be transported to doctor’s appointments and medical procedures. The case manager or social worker or facility scheduler will also arrange for non-emergency transportation.

Right Accord Transport is available in Sarasota and Manatee County to accommodate non-emergency transportation requiring wheelchair or stretcher. Caregivers such as  certified home health aides or certified nursing assistants or companions are available should you require special assistance when traveling to such as medical appointments,  social appointments, visiting friends or family, airport travel or going out of state travel.

At Right Accord Transport, it is our utmost goal to assist you in maximizing your independence and provide you with safety and comfort during your travel.

Our newest state of the art vans are designed to accommodate special mobility needs. The drivers are CPR certified and are very dependable and polite. Our rates are very reasonable and affordable.

To book your next non-emergency wheelchair or stretcher  transport with us, please call (941) 366-0801 or you may book on line by visiting our website at www.rightaccordhealth.com.

Right Accord Transport is available 24/7 in Sarasota and its neighboring areas such as Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Osprey, Venice, Nokomis, Casey Key, Bird Key.

In an era where disaster preparedness is more necessary than ever before, we should all have emergency documents ready in case of a natural or man-made disaster. Here are few tips:

Ask several relatives or friends who live outside your immediate area (approximately 100 miles away) to act as a clearinghouse for information about you and your family after a disaster. It is often easier to place an out-of-state long distance call from a disaster area, than to call within the area. All family members should know to call contact person to report their location and condition. Once contact is made, have the contact person relay messages to your other friends and relatives outside the disaster area. This will help to reduce calling into and out of the affected area once the phones are working.

Emergency Documents includes important information typically needed after a disaster. Copies of emergency documents should include vital information:

• Specifications for adaptive equipment (in case it needs to be replaced)
• Proof of ownership or lease of your residence. (This is important when applying for disaster assistance).
• Social security numbers of family members
• Charge and bank account numbers
• Insurance policy numbers
• Securities, deeds and loan numbers including company name, address and telephone numbers
• Wills/ Living Trusts and letters of instructions
• Important Business documents
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificate)

The documents should be placed in a water proof container.

Should you be requested to evacuate your home you should remember to bring this container with you.

Right Accord participates in the Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plan in the Sarasota County by submitting an Emergency Preparedness plan to the Sarasota County Health Department.

Seniors in Sarasota, Longboat key, Bradenton and Venice area who are receiving help at home from our Agency are automatically encouraged to fill out the Person with Special Need (PSN). Right Accord assists with registering seniors to the County Emergency Management Services if necessary. Right Accord will continue to provide services at the designated shelter to seniors who were receiving help at home.

Families living out of Florida who are looking for help for Mom or Dad in the Sarasota County or Manatee County who feel that they may need assistance during the hurricane season may contact our agency to arrange for care providers. We may arrange transportation to a safety place if it is needed especially seniors who require wheelchair transportation. Caregivers will assist the elderly with all the necessary documents and items needed to prepare prior to the actual evacuation.

Hurricane Preparedness is everyone responsibility. Be Prepared!

Generally speaking, these senior transportation services are more suited to helping people who are slightly more immobile than the rest of the population.  I’m sure we’ve all seen, and felt sorry for, an older person who is struggling to get off a bus (usually with some kind soul helping out) but with everyone huffing and puffing about the time taken to do so.  This behaviour by ‘the masses’  is, and will be, around for much time.  So will the high steps to get on and off the bus to begin with.

Most forms of transport that cater for seniors have wider doors, seats and some have air suspension that lower the bus to the ground when people get on and off.  One thing that is hugely important is that everyone on that bus is in the same situation and there certainly wont be anyone complaining about the time taken to get through the door.  An added bonus is that the driver will have been employed to drive the minibus or transport because of a decent, relaxed and helpful mannerism.

The specialist kind of non-emergency transport usually has to be booked through an agency and is date, time and distance specific. You have willl have to provide details of the immobile client with regards to wheelchair or stretcher uses, their height and weight. If your loved one is medically stable but requires medication to be close at hand or needs a care provider to escort them most transport services are closely aligned with senior care provider agencies so they can help with your needs.

For non-emergency senior transportation services, they can be found through your local church, charities provide transport to their centers where they usually have activites, the local Town Hall will either have information or have their own transport, shopping centers or malls can provide means of transport as well.