April is Occupational Therapy Month and the Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants at Box Butte General Hospital’s (BBGH) The Rehab & Wellness Center are planning a CarFit event for the community to celebrate the month.
CarFit at The Rehab & Wellness Center will be held Saturday, April 20, from 9-11 a.m. in the parking lot located on the east side of BBGH, 2101 Box Butte Ave. in Alliance. Occupational Therapist practitioners and their helpers will have two lines available. There are only 10 appointments left, so call 308.761.3372 soon to schedule an appointment.
CarFit, sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Association, AARP and AAA, is an educational program offering older adults an opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them.
Older drivers are often the safest drivers because they are more likely to wear their seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive. On the other hand, older drivers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash does occur due to the greater fragility of their aging bodies.
Driver safety programs improve safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills; however, older drivers can also improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them. A proper fit in one’s car can greatly increase not only the driver’s safety but also the safety of others.
During the CarFit event, Occupational Therapists Kate Brummer, OTD, OTR/L, LeighAnn Sheldon, MS, OTR/L, and Occupational Therapy Assistant Holly Young, COTA, will work with each participant to ensure they “fit” their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety. A CarFit check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
The CarFit check is free, and is only used to make sure the occupant is safe and secure within their car. The checklist items for CarFit is to make sure the driver: 1) can buckle their seat belt; 2) has an appropriate distance from the steering wheel; 3) has a good line of sight over the steering wheel; 4) can easily reach the pedals; 5) has all mirrors adjusted correctly; 6) can see blind spots by turning their head; 7) can operate all necessary vehicle functions such as flashers conveniently and safely.
“We were passing along information about this program to people who attended the Health Fair, and I did have some ask if we’d be taking their driver’s licenses away if they failed,” said Ms. Sheldon. “That is not what this is about at all. It’s all about making sure the older driver is safe.”
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across their lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person and the person is an integral part of the therapy team.