CarFit 2010 By Adria Hartry The MSOT’s are on the move. On Tuesday, June 22, 2010, the 2011 Masters of Occupational Therapy class volunteered as trained CarFit Technicians to assist in the CarFit community safety event. The class was required to attend the CarFit training the day prior. Their responsibilities included checking cars in by explaining the purpose of CarFit, assessing vehicles according to a checklist, recommend assistive devices to improve independence and function in and out of vehicles and perform a car body inspection with the driver. The MSOT’s were volunteering with the guidance of Ms. Debora Oliveira, Dr. Maria Hinds, Ms. Aurelia Alexander and Ms. Sarah Mbiza all faculty in the Division of Occupational Therapy of the School of Allied Health Sciences. The CarFit event was a success and the students gained an experience that will be beneficial as they venture into their careers as occupational therapists. CarFit is an educational and preventative program for older adult drivers in the community. The CarFit program was created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA (American Automobile Association), AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). These organizations realized the importance of independent mobility with the aging population. The cessation of driving has been shown to contribute to depression, social isolation and a decline in overall health. Although age-related changes present many challenges for the drivers the founding organizations, government agencies, professional associations, and privatesector organizations are taking steps to improve older driver's safety and mobility. With the many senior driver safety programs available CarFit is the only one that focuses on the drivers’ proper placement within their vehicle and not their physical and mental abilities. Community volunteers, AAA employees, students, and occupational therapists, the core of the program, all gather for this one-day event to relay their knowledge to individuals seeking help; but before this can occur all CarFit Technicians and Coordinators must complete a one-day training. Technician and Coordinator training is a day filled with education and demonstration with simulated car checks. By the end of the training the technicians and coordinators education levels are heightened on the purpose of CarFit, why CarFit, and how to properly complete a CarFit check up with a driver. The CarFit program is designed to operate in a variety of community-based settings, shopping mall, church, and community recreation center parking lots with at least one entrance and one exit. There are three stations in which the senior driver will complete a waiver form, participate in the CarFit check up, and lastly perform a walk around inspection of their vehicle and review CarFit checkup form with a health care professional, usually an occupational therapist at the check out station. With opportunities like CarFit available to senior drivers in our communities, it maintains the independence and safety the senior drivers need in
order to continue the fulfillment of their roles and responsibilities. For further information on CarFit and the program goals and outcomes as well as the events held across the map please visit CarFit's home page at www.car-fit.org.
Graduating Class of 2011 and OT faculty at the end of the CarFit Event on June 22, 2010
FAMU students Jian Jones and Christina Toole working on the “Check in� portion of the CarFit event.
Ashley Braynen and DougKindra Wallace completing the “Check out” portion of the CarFit event. This portion allows the OT to provide community resources and adaptive equipment to assist with helping mature drivers to find their perfect fit in their car.
Angie Bolden and Ustina Ilia completing the “Check Up” section at the CarFit event.