Navigating Low Vision and Driving Challenges in Aging Adults

This course will address two key components of productive aging in a community setting. The morning session will focus on providing strategies to minimize barriers for clients who have low vision, while the afternoon will address strengths and limitations of the driving evaluations process and discuss when a client would benefit from an assessment.

Monica Perlmutter, OTD, OTR/L, SCLV, will provide practitioners with an understanding of common age-related vision disorders and the evidence related to impact of vision loss on successful aging and daily activity performance. Participants will learn to administer vision screening evaluations and home lighting assessments that can be integrated into the OT evaluation process. Intervention strategies related to increasing the visibility of the home environment will be reviewed and applied to a case study. Indicators regarding need for referral to a low vision specialist and other community resources will also be addressed.

Peggy Barco, OTD, OTR/L, SCDCM, will provide an understanding of the strengths and limitations of the driving evaluation process from both a specialist and generalist perspective. Emphasis will be placed on providing clinicians with evidence regarding how assessment tools can be utilized to determine whether an older adult with cognitive impairment would benefit from a driving evaluation. This course will further the participant's understanding of how deficits associated with not being able to drive may impact alternative community mobility options. Additionally this workshop will provide information and discussion regarding state reporting laws and ethical dilemmas that can occur while addressing driving concerns.

Click here for more information, or to register for the course.