With the goal of keeping seniors safe on the roads, the Lone Star College-Tomball Occupational Therapy Assistant program will host a new safety program designed to help seniors find out how the “fit” of their personal vehicle affects their driving. Older adult drivers are invited to bring their vehicles to the LSC-Tomball Health Science Building on Thursday, October 27, from 10 am to 2 pm to take part in CarFit, an innovative national program designed to give a quick comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work together.
The CarFit program was created by the San Francisco-based American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA (American Automobile Association), AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
At the CarFit event, trained volunteers will complete a 12-point checklist with each driver. Among the items checked: Is the person positioned correctly in the driver’s seat? Can the person reach the pedals easily? Does the person know how to adjust mirrors properly or have the flexibility to use the mirrors?
After visiting the trained volunteer professional, the driver will consult with an occupational therapist who, if needed, will discuss ways drivers can maintain and improve aspects related to their driving health. The therapists also will provide information to participants addressing individual needs, including information about local community resources on exercise, nutrition and other programs to help keep them safe on the road.
Older drivers can also check with their local AAA club and AARP chapter, which provide driver refresher courses for older road users or occupational therapy driving evaluation programs for individualized assessments and recommendations. CarFit represents an extension of those classroom programs, and an opportunity for older drivers to make sure their personal vehicles are adjusted to their needs.
The LSC-Tomball Health Science Building is located at 700 Graham Drive, across from the Tomball Regional Medical Center. For more information or to R.S.V.P. for the CarFit event, contact Jeanne Walker at 281.357.3793 or Jeanne.Walker@LoneStar.edu.
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With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for fall 2010 and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges: LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris and LSC-Tomball; six centers; LSC-University Park; LSC-University Center at Montgomery; LSC-University Center at University Park; Lone Star Corporate College; and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.