NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Waveny LifeCare Network is hosting CarFit, a national safety program developed by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association to help older drivers and their families find a better “fit” with their cars for comfort, safety and mobility. The event will take place on Friday, June 18th from 10am – 2pm at 73 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan. Participants will be asked to wear a face mask and pre-registration is required; please email Events@Waveny.org or call 203-594-5419 to register.
CarFit was created to give a quick yet comprehensive check on how well a senior driver and their vehicle work together. Trained CarFit technicians take senior drivers through a 12-point checklist with their vehicle, recommending minor adjustments that help make their cars “fit” better for comfort and safety.
At a CarFit event, trained technicians complete a 12-point checklist with each driver. Among the items checked:
- Correct position of driver’s seat
- Clear line of sight over the steering wheel
- Proper adjustment of mirrors
- Adequate spacing between the front airbag/steering wheel and driver
- Properly adjusted head restraints
- Driver’s ability to easily reach pedals and foot positioning on the pedals
- Seat belt use and fit
By 2030, there will be an estimated 58.9 million people age 65 and older – that’s 1 in 5 individuals. This growing age cohort continues to grow and represents a vitally important contingency in our community. Personal mobility is critical for healthy aging, but as our bodies change during ageing, ill-fitting vehicles can make it uncomfortable and unsafe to drive. Additionally, due to fragility, older drivers have the highest crash death rate per mile of anyone excluding teenagers. CarFit is a tool that can work to help keep seniors be and feel safer behind the wheel.
ABOUT WAVENY LIFECARE NETWORK
Waveny LifeCare Network is a non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive continuum of healthcare to serve the changing needs of older adults from all areas. Waveny offers independent living at The Inn, memory/dementia assisted living and respite care at The Village, and skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services at Waveny Care Center. It also includes the Brown Geriatric Evaluation Clinic, and an array of community-based services through Waveny Home Healthcare and Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County. In October 2020, Waveny LifeCare Network was nationally recognized as one of the Best Nursing Homes for 2020-21 by U.S. News & World Report and continually scored as a 5-Star facility by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), provider of health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid and other programs.
For more information, call 203.594.5200 or visit www.waveny.org
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Media Contact:
Terry Henry, MBA
Chief Sales, Marketing & Communications Officer
Email: thenry@waveny.org
Phone: 203.594-5308
