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Professional's Corner

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Professional's Corner

Elderly man talking with doctor

Professional's Corner

Law enforcement, health care providers and other professionals that work with aging drivers have an important and unique role in helping to maintain the safe mobility of aging adults. This website provides information and resources for these professionals that address the concerns aging drivers face and help keep them independent and mobile for as long as safely possible.

 

 

    • Disability License Plates and Parking

      The site provides information about the eligibility requirements for Michigan disability license plates and both permanent and temporary disability parking placards. Links are provided to application forms and an informational brochure.

       

    • NHTSA Fact Sheets and Videos: Driving when you have...

      Alzheimer’s PDF Video
      Arthritis PDF Video
      Cataracts PDF
      Diabetes PDF Video
      Glaucoma PDF
      Parkinson's Video
      Vision Disorders Video

       

    • The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) Disabilities and Driving Fact Sheets

      Arthritis Multiple Sclerosis
      ASD Parkinson's
      Aging Spinal Cord Injury
      Alzheimer's
      Vision
      Amputation Non-Verbal Learning Disability
      ADHD
      Stroke
      Cerebral Palsy
      Spina Bifida
      Novice Drivers with Disabilities Traumatic Brain Injury
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    • Michigan's Guide for Aging Drivers and Their Families

      This guide is a resource that professionals may refer to aging drivers, family members and caregivers, helping them to understand how aging and age-related changes in health may affect safe driving. It is available to download and printed copies may be requested at no cost.

       

    • Clinician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers, 4th Edition

      The information in this guide is provided to assist physicians and other medical professionals in evaluating the ability of their older patients to operate motor vehicles safely as part of their everyday, personal activities.

       

    • Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure Online

      A web-based tool for caregivers and/or family members of older drivers and occupational therapy practitioners (OT) to identify at-risk older drivers. Caregivers and/or family members who have driven with the driver in the last three months, can rate a driver's difficulties with 54 driving skills. through this on-line screening. Based on the specific driver category, recommendations are given as follow-up steps.

       

    • CDC Medicine Risk Fact Sheet

      Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines (OTC), dietary supplements, and even some herbal products can cause side effects that increase your risk of a fall or motor vehicle crash. Use this fact sheet, from the CDC, to identify medicines that put you at risk, potential side effects, and questions to ask your doctor.

       

    • Driver Evaluation

      The Department of State provides a form, called a Request for Driver Evaluation (DA-88), that can be completed and submitted to request a review of an individual's driving skills. The steps for referring an individual to the Michigan Department of State for a driver evaluation are explained on this site, including how the evaluation is administered and what possible outcomes might result.

       

    • Driving Transitions Education - Tools, Scripts, and Practice Exercises

      This resource provides professionals who work directly with aging adults, their families, and concerned community members with the tools, scripts, and practice exercises to develop the necessary skills required for effective conversations about driver safety.

       

    • Organizing and Managing Senior Transportation Options, Certificate

      This online certificate program is designed for professionals in the field of aging services and transportation services interested in addressing senior transportation challenges and managing services that meet the mobility needs of an aging population

       

    • Drive Well Toolkit: Promoting Older Driver Safety and Mobility in Your Community

      This toolkit is for people working directly with aging adults and provides information about the issues related to aging drivers and later-life independence and mobility, how to plan and implement public information events, and evaluate the effectiveness of older driver programs.

       

    • Medscape.org for CME about Aging Drivers

      Accredited CME to fulfill license requirements. Credits available for many specialties. Search Aging Drivers for current courses available on this issue. Medscape is an online destination for physicians and healthcare professionals, offering the medical news and perspectives: point-of-care drug and disease information; and professional education and CME.

       

    • Michigan's Guide for Aging Drivers and Their Families

      This guide is a resource that professionals may refer to aging drivers, family members and caregivers, helping them to understand how aging and age-related changes in health may affect safe driving. It is available to download and printed copies may be requested at no cost.

       

    • Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure Online

      A web-based tool for caregivers and/or family members of older drivers and occupational therapy practitioners (OT) to identify at-risk older drivers. Caregivers and/or family members who have driven with the driver in the last three months, can rate a driver's difficulties with 54 driving skills. through this on-line screening. Based on the specific driver category, recommendations are given as follow-up steps.

       

    • CDC Medicine Risk Fact Sheet

      Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines (OTC), dietary supplements, and even some herbal products can cause side effects that increase your risk of a fall or motor vehicle crash. Use this fact sheet, from the CDC, to identify medicines that put you at risk, potential side effects, and questions to ask your doctor.

       

    • Driver Evaluation

      The Department of State provides a form, called a Request for Driver Evaluation (DA-88), that can be completed and submitted to request a review of an individual's driving skills. The steps for referring an individual to the Michigan Department of State for a driver evaluation are explained on this site, including how the evaluation is administered and what possible outcomes might result.

    • Organizations Related to Aging Drivers

      This section provides a list of state, federal, private sector and nonprofit organizations that address the questions, challenges and concerns confronting aging drivers and their families. 

       

Videos and other resources

Aging Drivers: Discussing Competency

Keeping Aging Drivers Safe: Discussing Competency provides medical professionals with a better understanding of how to communicate effectively with patients who may be facing cognitive issues that affect their ability to drive safely.

Aging Drivers: Request for a Driver Evaluation

Keeping Aging Drivers Safe: Request for a Driver Evaluation explains how to fill out and submit a request for a driver evaluation using the Request for Driver Evaluation form (DA-88).

Aging Drivers: Physician's Statement of Examination

Keeping Aging Drivers Safe: Physician's Statement of Evaluation shows healthcare professionals how to fill out and submit the Physician's Statement of Examination (DA-4P) when requesting a driver evaluation for a patient.