What is this online community's experience with "Car Fit" events?
The Alliance for Aging, the area agency on aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties in South Florida, partners with the state's Department of Elder Affairs and a local university to organize Car Fit events located throughout the community in public places to help elders "fit" their cars better. Better fitting mirrors, seats, seat belts, etc. lead to increased safety on the road for our older drivers.
Comments (3)
In the Metro Detroit area, Car Fit is provided by AAA Michigan (the Auto Club), and has been held in conjuction with Mature Driver Workshops and Transportation Resource Fairs and is very well received and appreciated. Our agency (AAA 1-B) may also provide Car Fit at our annual Caregiver Resource Fair.
CarFit is a collaborative project of AAA, AARP and AOTA (The American Occupational Therapy Association). It is FREE and available to all that take the initiative to get trained in the How-To's. You can learn about CarFit at www.Car-Fit.org
CarFit has several benefits: seniors learn about the safety features that adjust and how to make the adjustments to optimally benefit from their vehicle's safety features, it encourages stakeholders around transportation to gather and host an event- they meet each other and learn from each other and build networks, and seniors facing challenges from medical conditions (little to big) learn that solutions are possible and they do not need to suffer in silence. The occupational therapists (and other experts in driving rehabilitation) offer guidance and raise awareness of the specialized services they offer. CarFit is fun, it is positive and it builds networks. Check it out and get involved!
Elin Schold Davis
AOTA Liaison to CarFit
The CarFit technicians can also identify drivers who may not be safe on the road, all in a low key, non-threatening manner. It opens up the subject and begins the dialogue.