Where safe driving is concerned, age matters
As the 50+ population increases,
the risk of "age-related" driving accidents increases
July/August 2012
2011ember/December 2011
Not only is the Canadian population aging, older adults are the fastest growing age
group. In fact, when today’s trends are combined—increase in life expectancy, aging
baby boom generation, and declining fertility rates—it is clear that the population 50
years and older is here to stay, and significantly grow.
In fact, Statistics Canada predicts that “in 2011, an estimated 5million Canadians were
65 years of age or older, a number that is expected to double in the next 25 years to
reach 10.4 million seniors by 2036. By 2051, about one in four Canadians is expected
to be 65 or over.” ¹
Just like aging is a fact of life…
Age-related medical conditions are a fact of life.
These facts can negatively affect safe driving ability
As age increases, so too do certain medical conditions. Where safe driving is
concerned, these conditions can translate into unsafe driving which in turn, can result
in accidents. As conveyed by a Statistics Canada study released this year, "It is not
seniors' more advanced age that increases the risks of traffic accidents, but rather
certain medical conditions that they are more likely to have. Driving a vehicle safely
requires good vision, good hearing, adequate cognitive abilities and adequate motor
skills-functions that deteriorate naturally with age." ²
Age alone does not determine safe driving ability, but…
As society undergoes the predicted demographic shift and older adults dominate the
population, in turn, your caseload is likely to include a greater number of clients 50
years an older. This is the case because age-related medical conditions are directly
related safe driving ability:
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Increased vision issues like difficulty seeing in the dark, scanning the scene, or
seeing peripherally
Diminished reaction time due to physical issues like weakness and pain
Increased cognitive issues related to memory loss or easy distraction or confusion
Decreased motor skills that typically continue to decrease with aging
Increased age-related medical conditions = Decreased safe driving ability
For more information about the incidence of certain age-related medical conditions
affecting seniors who still drive, please see the attached overview. Stay tuned for the
next Sibley Report to learn how you can tailor your file management to address the
50+ population’s unique physiological issues.
July/August 2012 Page 2
Incidence of age-related physiological issues
among seniors who have a driver’s licence
As our population ages, a serious concern is how to create a balance between driving safety
and seniors’ desire for independence: “A majority of seniors live in areas where the car is the
primary form of transportation. Thus, it is not surprising to find that the majority of seniors, even those
of more advanced ages, travel mostly by car. According to various sources, the majority of seniors
have no intention of moving and plan to remain where they live as long as possible. The number and
proportion of seniors who drive can therefore be expected to increase over the coming years.” ³
Contrary to many beliefs about seniors and aging, the Statistics Canada report, Profile of
Seniors’ transportation habits, indicates that:
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“Seniors do not use public transit more often as their main form of transportation as they get
older.” ⁴
Given the popularity of the car as the main form of transportation, only a minority of seniors used
other forms of transportation. For example, 7% of people aged 75 to 84 got around principally by
public transit, while 4% mainly walked or cycled. The proportions using these alternative forms of
transportation were the same for seniors as for 45 –to 54-year-olds.” ⁵
“A very small minority of seniors aged 65 to 84 used accessible transit or taxis as their primary
means of transportation.” ⁶
In addition, the Statistics Canada study indicates that three-quarters of all seniors had a
driver’s licence. ⁷ However, simply having a licence does not automatically translate into safe
driving ability. In fact, the study reveals the following incidence of age-related physiological
issues that could seriously affect safe driving ability:
Vision
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Hearing
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Cognition 
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Mobility
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19% or 14,000 seniors had a licence with limited sight: Level 5: “Unable to read
ordinary newspaper and unable to recognize a friend on the other side of the
street, even with glasses - still had a licence.” ⁸
“Among seniors who had the most serious hearing problems (Levels 5 and 6), 53%
had a licence, and about one-half had driven a vehicle in the previous month.” 9
“40,000 seniors who had a driver’s licence but were very likely to forget things and
had considerable difficulty thinking clearly and solving everyday problems. In
addition, about 20,000 people who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
or some other form of dementia had a driver’s licence.” 10
“At Levels 5 and 6, people are very likely to forget things and have a great deal of
difficulty thinking clearly and solving everyday problems. Of this group, 36%, or
about 38,000 seniors, had a driver’s licence.” 11
“More than one-quarter of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of
dementia had a licence.” 12
“…just over one-quarter (28%) of seniors with reduced mobility had a driver’s
licence.” 13
See the full report at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2012001/article/11619-eng.htm
Sources: ¹, ³-13 Profile of Seniors’ transportation habits, Statistics Canada, retrieved June 2012: www.statcan.gc.ca, ² Context – Aging
Population, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, retrieved June 2012: www4.hrsdc.gc.ca
For more information, please contact Sibley at 1-800-363-8900
Where physiology is concerned, age matters
Evolving demographics mean evolving rehabilitation needs
September/October 2012
2011ember/December 2011
With today’s aging demographics, your future caseload is likely to include a greater
number of clients 50 years and older. However, this is not solely due to the fact that as
a society we are aging. It is also the case because, where safe driving is concerned,
age matters, as conveyed in the July/August 2012 edition of The Sibley Report:
“As age increases, so too do certain medical conditions. Where safe driving is
concerned, these conditions can translate into unsafe driving which in turn, can result
in accidents. As conveyed by a Statistics Canada study released this year, ‘It is not
seniors' more advanced age that increases the risks of traffic accidents, but rather
certain medical conditions that they are more likely to have. Driving a vehicle safely
requires good vision, good hearing, adequate cognitive abilities and adequate motor
skills-functions that deteriorate naturally with age.’”
Overall, the 50+ client population has a variety of issues that do not yet affect younger
populations. Accordingly, as society undergoes this demographic shift and in turn,
your caseload includes an increasing number of clients 50 years and older, it is
important to shift your rehabilitation approach to follow suit.
Are you prepared for clients 50 years and older?
Although many older adults may seem young at heart, their physiology reveals that
there is a lot more to the story that just a youthful demeanor. It is important to
recognize that age makes a difference regarding the best rehabilitation approach:
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Physiology Issues: like decreased skin sensation, larger adhesions, tissue
shortening, as well as susceptibility to secondary infections and respiratory issues.
Mobility Issues: like arthritis, which affects numerous older adults, and hip
fractures are also more prevalent as age rises.
Pain Issues: like severe pain; percentage of pain sufferers reporting severe pain is
higher for older adults.
Psychological Issues: like dementia; currently half a million seniors suffer from
dementia. This is expected to rise to more than a million by 2038.
As age increases, so does medical history
Age also matters in terms of pre-existing medical conditions, so be sure to check for
conditions common in those 50+ that may compound MVA injuries. Please see the
attachment for an overview of characteristics unique to the 50+ population so that you
can tailor your file management to address their unique needs. Also, in case you
missed it, be sure to download the July/August 2012 edition of The Sibley Report to
learn how age-related medical conditions can negatively affect safe driving ability.
Available at www.sibley.ca.
September/October 2012
Attachment Page 1
Effective rehabilitation strategies for the 50+ client population
The goal of an effective rehabilitation plan is always to develop a client-centered approach. This couldn’t be more the case than
where the 50+ population is concerned, due to the range of unique age-related issues. Accordingly, it is helpful to gain insight
into the characteristics common to the 50+ client population to provide an overall context, enhancing your ability to tailor a
rehabilitation plan to meet your 50+ client’s specific situation and needs.
Characteristics of 50+ Client Population
Effective Strategy
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Wide-ranging needs: The range of issues affecting your 50+
clients may be far-reaching because, not only does each
client have a unique medical history, in addition, the
physiological issues common with aging affect each client to
a varied degree.
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Early intervention is paramount: Although early
intervention is important for all client populations, it is
especially important for those 50+, because this population
often requires added support to facilitate a safe return to preaccident function.
Pre-existing routines are highly relevant: Typically, the
50+ population adheres to a more regular routine than
younger populations. For some 50+ clients, disruption of
routine can be stressful, even overwhelming.
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Lengthy and often complex pre-existing medical history:
Not only does the 50+ population have significantly longer
medical histories than younger populations, their histories are
also typically more complex, including a range of pre-existing
conditions that could negatively impact recovery.
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Only select rehabilitation professionals who are qualified, and who
have the capabilities to provide the range of rehabilitation services
that may be required. For example, ensure postgraduate training
and experience with the 50+ population because inexperienced or
untrained professionals may lack the kind of in-depth knowledge
necessary to expertly problem solve the unique challenges when
working with the 50+ population.
Ensure that the rehabilitation professionals contact your 50+ client
within 24 hours and schedule appointments within 48 hours.
Ensure that the rehabilitation professionals are focused on returning
your 50+ client to their pre-accident routine as quickly as possible.
For instance, rehabilitation in the home setting is often beneficial
because it provides comfort and convenience while minimizing
stress and fatigue, as well as eliminating transportation costs.
Make sure that the rehabilitation professionals are meticulous in
detailing your 50+ client’s medical history. Accurate assessment of
your client’s status, as well as initiating the rehabilitation plan, often
requires numerous appointments.
To effectively manage these commitments with limited disruption,
suggest that the rehabilitation professional arrange combined
assessments and/or treatment sessions. This results in a more
comprehensive assessment with added convenience and it
reinforces communication between healthcare professionals while
reducing any potential duplication of services.
Please see reverse side…
September/October 2012
Attachment Page 2
Effective strategies for the 50+ client population – continued…
Characteristics of 50+ Population
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Diverse lifestyles: Today, the 50+ client population’s
lifestyle is more diverse than in the past, due to society’s
longer life expectancies. For example, your 50+ client may be
the primary caregiver for dependent children and/or
dependent parents or, by contrast, your client may have lost
family members or friends who acted as caregivers or
provided social support. Similarly, employment issues,
accessibility, and safety issues are as individual as each 50+
client; accordingly, all lifestyle issues must be identified and
addressed.
Unique vocational needs: These days, many in the 50+
population continue to work in a variety of arrangements.
Whether full time, part time, or periodic contract work, a
variety of vocational services may be beneficial depending on
your client’s pre-accident employment and post-accident
capabilities.
Strong cultural ties and generational attitudes: Although
awareness and respect of cultural and generational attitudes
is important with all client groups, it is often particularly
relevant with the 50+ population because many have strong
cultural ties and often firm attitudes associated with their
generation.
Effective Strategy
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Verify that the rehabilitation professionals have solid relationships
with a wide range of health and community services to promote
problem solving and to ensure that the right services are put into
place.
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Confirm that, when appropriate, return to work planning is an
integral part of your 50+ client’s rehabilitation process.
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Only select rehabilitation professionals who demonstrate cultural
sensitivity and intergenerational knowledge. For example, advanced
training in gerontology provides insight into cultural and generational
issues often relevant with the 50+ population.
For more information, please contact Sibley at 1-800-363-8900