Citation

Counsell SR. J. Gerontol. Nurs. 2016; 42(5): 47-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Healio)

DOI

10.3928/00989134-20160413-05

PMID

27110740

Abstract

The great American novelist Jack Kerouac (2007) once said: “Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road” (p. 183). Although geriatric health care professionals have made great strides in promoting high-quality, person-centered care for older adults, there is still much to do on the road ahead. In a very literal example, a recent collaboration between the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has generated guidance that will help advanced practice nurses (APNs) and other health professionals navigate the intricacies of assessing and counseling older drivers, a key population with unique social and physical needs. More broadly, our recent thought leadership on topics such as high-quality multicultural care speaks to just how much lies ahead in providing comprehensive care for our nation's older adults and support for their caregivers.

First, the literal: With older adults accounting for 10% of all individuals injured in traffic accidents annually and 17% of annual traffic fatalities (National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2015), our new Clinician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers (AGS, 2016) is an example of translating research findings and public health initiatives into practical, person-centered advice for safely navigating the open road.

Reviewed and edited by an interprofessional board of nurses, physicians, social workers, occupational therapists, and pharmacists, the guide introduces key issues, opportunities, and challenges faced by older drivers, health care professionals, and caregivers....

Language: en