How Occupational Therapists Can Help Families Transition from a Driver’s License to a Photo ID

Transitioning away from driving can be one of the most emotionally challenging shifts for older adults or individuals who have medical changes. As driver rehab specialists or OTs supporting older individuals, our first choice is usually to provide a driving risk assessment or comprehensive driver evaluation to make sure this independent act is preserved, but that’s not always possible. OTs often find themselves in the middle of these conversations, needing to provide support with dignity.

While OTs and OT DRSs don’t get to directly decide whether or not someone keeps their license, we can play an amazing role in considering objective information as well as educating and guiding patients and families through steps, including when it comes time to surrender a driver’s license for a state ID card.

Understanding Our Role as OTs

It’s important to be clear in your support. The state determines the licensure, not a healthcare provider. We are not to be taking licenses away but instead informing patients of their options and helping them understand the process. We can also provide support for functional transitioning when driving is no longer an option to help reduce fear and defensiveness during these tricky conversations.

OTs are there to think about risk factors, complete objective tests and measures, and perform on-road assessments as OT DRSs to look for patterns and provide meaningful information to support driving retirement decisions. Then, this can be shared back to the referring doctor to guide decisions.

The state has the ultimate authority about a driver’s license, but the OT, OT DRS, and doctor provide guidance and support based on medical conditions and presentations with the goal of supporting safety and independence. The truth backed up by research is that most of us will outlive our ability to drive. When things start to change, OTs are there to support both the driving retiree and their family.

When a patient voluntarily gives up their driver’s license in Pennsylvania, they can get a PA photo ID card to help them maintain an official identification.

How OTs Can Support the Process

OTs have a special position to support because we address:

• instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
• community mobility
• safety awareness
• role changes
• driving risk

Some of the ways OTs can help include:

• empowering patients and their families through education on their options to surrender a license for an ID card
• normalizing the transition by framing it as safety rather than a loss
• helping to gather the appropriate documentation (like the current ID, residency proof, and identity documents)
• encouraging planning to be proactive rather than reactive after the transition
• helping to find alternate transportation plans to keep an older adult out and about as appropriate

For many families, it is very helpful just to be guided with a clear procedure to lower their anxiety overall. For more support, check out Susie Touchinsky’s tips called the 3 Rs of Driving Retirement.

Driver Rehab Instead of License Surrender

Maybe you’re thinking that there might be another option out there for some individuals rather than surrendering their license, but you’re just not sure what it is or how to achieve it. Driver rehab services may be the answer for those who don’t need a license surrender just yet but maybe some adaptive driving training. You can make a difference for these individuals by becoming an OT Driver Rehab Specialist. Check out Adaptive Mobility’s courses to learn more today.