Seniors

Keeping Seniors on the Road

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If you're a senior who wants to keep driving safely or a caretaker and/or family member who wants to help a senior improve his or her driving technique, you’re in luck. The Rochester Rehabilitation Center offers a complete Driver Evaluation & Training Program designed to help seniors overcome physical and cognitive limitations to driving by using sophisticated, proven training techniques and adaptive equipment when recommended. The Center maintains a fleet of specially equipped cars and vans and nine full-time rehabilitation instructors. There's even a car with 100% voice activated controls.

The program serves an estimated 600-700 people, including seniors, each year. and is fully committed to maintaining people’s mobility in a variety of ways. In addition to helping with driving skills, the Center will evaluate the suitability of a senior’s vehicle, help make safety adaptations to it, and even help him or her select a newer model.

If one can no longer drive safely, the Center can offer recommendations for getting around, enabling you to maintain your mobility and independence using alternate means of transportation. For example, people who have been affected by strokes have formed the Association of Disability and Self-Help Stroke Group, which runs a highly organized volunteer transportation service.

Rochester Rehabilitation’s Driver Evaluation & Training Program has become a model for programs in other parts of the country. In fact, identical services are currently available in:

• Buffalo
• Syracuse
• Utica

Call 585-271-2520 Ext. 715 or TTY at 585-442-1088 to learn more about Driver Evaluation & Training.

When is it time to stop driving?

It's a tough question, but it does have an answer: It's time to stop driving when you can no longer drive safely.

Of course, it's not easy to make that decision. Questioning your own driving skills or having them challenged by your friends or kids is extremely troubling. Many of us equate independence with driving. But you don't need to drive to be independent. There are ways to get around that don't require you to drive. Sometimes they can even be more convenient than driving your own car (and having to find that elusive parking space).

What's most important is to be honest with yourself – and to get objective information and help in making the decision. That's why the Rochester Rehabilitation Center's Driver Evaluation & Training Program is so valuable. The program includes:

• Driver Evaluation. This covers your knowledge of the rules of the road, visual acuity for day and night driving, physical abilities, and cognitive skills.
• Driver Training. Based on your individual evaluation, you'll receive specific training and learn about specialized equipment that can help you.
• Equipment Evaluation. Drivers (and even passengers) with physical impairments or limitations will be introduced to pedal extenders, special lifts, voice activated signaling devices and more.
• Vehicle Consultation. You'll get an objective review of your car's suitability for drivers and passengers with special needs.
• Vehicle and Functional Inspection. We’ll provide our expertise to see if vehicle modifications match the manufacturer’s instructions and have been installed properly for safety’s sake.

The cost of the program may be covered by the NYS Office of Vocational and Educational Services (VESID), Veteran’s Affairs, the Office of Medicaid (Care at Home) or Worker’s Compensation. Some people do pay privately at an hourly rate based on a sliding scale fee for driver rehabilitation services.

For more information for yourself or a loved one, call Rochester Rehabilitation Center Driver Evaluation & Training Program at 585-271-2520, extension # 715.