OT Strategies: How to have Positive Driving Conversations with Clients

Is your client a driver? Are you ready to help, but not sure where to start?

Use these resources:

• To initiate positive conversations on safe driving and community mobility.
• As general education for drivers, families, physicians, and other members of the medical team.
• To lead short educational presentations.

Educational resources for vehicle technology, physical fitness, driving wellness, and future driving plans

• MyCarDoesWhat.org: resource to help drivers of all ages and abilities to better understand the technology used in motor vehicles today.
• Hartford Insurance Resources: These free resources provide clear information with helpful pictures in an easy to ready font. These booklets may be downloaded or ordered from the Hartford Insurance website. Use the site’s search feature to search for each item by title.
  • Top 10 Vehicle Technologies for Mature Drivers: Reviews current technology trends and may be helpful for someone shopping for a new vehicle
  • Exercise for Mature Drivers: reviews specific exercises to improve fitness for driving – bicep curls, back stretch, heel drops, shoulder/chest expansion, etc.
  • You & Your Car – A Guide to Driving Wellness: provides information focused on the mature driver and reviews topics such as myths about aging and driving, your health for being a safer driver, driving skills, considerations for passengers, driving choices, and vehicle maintenance.
  • Your Road to Confidence – A Widow’s guide to Buying, Selling, & Maintaining a Car. Specifically geared towards widows whose driving habits may now be changing due to the loss of their spouse. It covers topics including: your husband’s car, selling a car, buying or leasing a car, vehicle maintenance, and tips when traveling alone.
  • Your Road Ahead – A Guide to Comprehensive Driving Evaluations: Provide this resource to anyone who may need a driving evaluation. It provides a comprehensive review of the benefits of a driving evaluation, general process and procedure for a driving evaluation, the role of the occupational therapist, recommendations, and a variety of helpful driving related resources. This is also a great resource for peers and other professionals to help provide education on the role of the OT and DRS with driving evaluations.
  • Getting There worksheet

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) videos

Use these short (7 – 10 minute) videos to start conversation about specific medical conditions and driving concerns. The videos below can be found on the NHTSA website.

• Driving with Alzheimer’s Disease
• Driving with Severe Arthritis
• Driving with Diabetes
• Driving with Parkinson’s Disease
• Driving with Vision Disorders

For questions about driving or driving rehab, Adaptive Mobility is here to help! Learn more about our client services.

Photo by Thomas Drouault on Unsplash