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Evaluation of the elderly driver with arthritis
1Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|May 1, 1993
Summary
Managing arthritis in older drivers requires assessing driving functions and considering psychosocial impacts. Optimal arthritis treatment, power steering, and automatic transmission are key management tools, supplemented by adaptive devices.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Arthritis significantly impacts older adults, affecting their ability to drive.
- Central nervous system (CNS) effects of arthritis medications and psychosocial aspects of immobility complicate driving management.
- Assessing specific driving functions like turning and braking is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key management strategies for older drivers with arthritis.
- To highlight the importance of evaluating driving-specific functions.
- To discuss the role of adaptive driving equipment.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment of driving-related functions (turning, braking).
- Consideration of medication side effects on the CNS.
- Evaluation of psychosocial factors related to immobility.
- Review of adaptive driving technologies.
Main Results:
- Optimal arthritis management is a prerequisite for effective driving strategies.
- Power steering and automatic transmission are highly effective adaptive tools.
- Less costly adaptive devices, such as auxiliary mirrors, also provide value.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive management of older drivers with arthritis involves functional assessment and appropriate vehicle modifications.
- Adaptive driving technologies, including power steering and automatic transmission, significantly aid mobility.
- Rehabilitation services offering adaptive equipment are valuable resources.