Adaptations o Older Drivers in Marin County
Graduation Date
2009
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Stacy Frauwirth, MS, OTR/L
Abstract
With a rapidly aging population worldwide, older driver safety is an active and growing concern. Occupational therapists are concerned with driving because it enables community mobility that is essential for independence, participation in activities of daily living (ADLs) and other meaningful roles and occupations. Aging adults often experience declines in skills that are used in driving performance, including sensorimotor, psychosocial and cognitive abilities. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to gather data and describe how Marin County drivers are adapting their behaviors to continue driving safely with increasing age.
Participants were recruited from university classes that cater to older adults and also from individuals who had previously participated in a community older driver safety event. The age of participants ranged from 60 to 93 and included 83% females. An analysis of completed surveys showed that Marin County drivers are modifying their behaviors to avoid accident risk by adopting self-regulatory strategies. The most common strategies were limiting night driving and preplanning of trips. A significant correlation was found between age and the number of self-regulatory behaviors adopted, supporting findings of prior studies.
Occupational therapists can be valuable resources for older drivers, helping them to recognize declines in function and potential safety risks in driving. Therapists can support drivers with education, assessment, rehabilitation, assistive equipment and pursuit of alternate transportation options. Occupational therapists can facilitate adaptation that considers community mobility in the context of psychosocial and physical needs.