Driving and Community Mobility

The driving and community mobility lecture provided me with a new way to assess and design interventions for those needing to enhance their driving and community mobility skills. Just because someone has not had a car wreck does not mean that they are driving safely. However, you must convey that in a caring manner. Approach the subject of driving sensitively and respectfully because no one wants to hear that they should not be driving. That is usually a person’s only way to get out of their home and provides them with a sense of independence. Additionally, do not limit your scope of driving interventions to driving a typical motor vehicle. Individuals may have interests and occupations involving other means of driving, such as a golf cart or a tractor. Another consideration is all of the components you must assess when evaluating a client to drive, some including the ability to transfer, ability sequence, visual processing abilities, physical limitations, and positioning needs.

         One intervention that came to mind while discussing the impact of a stroke on an individual’s ability to drive was compensating for left neglect. This intervention could be implemented in a one-on-one setting. To increase a client’s awareness of their left side, you could assist a client in creating a habit or routine of checking their left side to enable them to check the left when driving and needing the switch lanes, back out of a parking spot, or check for pedestrians. This could be implemented using a timer that alerts a person every so often, a light that blinks, or a watch vibration.

         Another intervention that could be implemented for clients who have experienced a stroke or have a diagnosis associated with UE weakness or limited ROM would be an exercise class. Clients could be seated and we would perform movements to simulate those required to shift gears, put on a seatbelt, steer a steering wheel, and open and close a door. This would promote carryover to increase these individuals’ abilities to perform some of the foundation physical actions of driving.