Sample: Tips for Existing Health-Promotion Programs

Goals and Objectives

• To improve attendance in health-promotion programs by incorporating the attractive topic of maintaining the car keys
• To draw new audiences
• To offer supplemental information

Strategies

The following are suggestions for retooling or adapting existing health-promotion and physical-activity programs to target older-driver wellness.

• Driving Safety Month
• Older-Driver Newsletter Outreach
• Keeping the Car Keys Fitness Program
• Mind the Keys Folders
• Environment of Driving Wellness

Driving Safety Month

Things to Do:

• On a given day, provide a sampling of existing free classes in some of the following areas:
  • Physical activity
  • Cooking for health
  • Walking clubs
  • Bridge, current-affairs or language classes (to keep the mind sharp)
  • Health-screening clinics
  
   
• Present an orientation to a driving-fitness program with demonstrations or speakers, including, for example, occupational therapists, certified driving-rehabilitation specialists, healthcare providers, and representatives from alternative transportation agencies, the department of motor vehicles, law enforcement, and driving-education programs
   
• Develop a special flyer highlighting these programs and activities and explaining how they help older adults keep the car keys longer
   
• Sponsor a driving-fitness triathlon. Have participants use check sheets to record three activities they engage in each day that contribute to mental sharpness, physical activity, food fitness, health checkups, restful sleep, or medication management. Present prizes at the end of the month for those who complete the triathlon activities 20 of the 30 days.

Older-Driver Newsletter Outreach

Things to Do:

• Feature an existing class or activity in your newsletter, explaining its benefits, using information found in this module
   
• Initiate a "Driving Fitness" column in each issue of the newsletter. The column could provide tips on healthy behaviors, activities or cues for improving driving function

Keeping the Car Keys Fitness Program

Things to Do:

• Create a fitness class geared to maintaining driving function. Most activities will focus on fall-prevention exercises (since falls are one predictor of driving crashes). Concentrate on stretching, flexibility, endurance, and range-of-motion exercises

Mind the Keys Folders

Things to Do:

• For regular attendees of physical-activity classes, provide three-ring binders to interested participants. Each week, distribute an article or fact sheet on driving wellness and activities that contribute to keeping the car keys longer. Each article may be inserted into the binder. Expand the information beyond just physical activity to include diet, alcohol and medication use, driving-refresher classes, adequate rest and sleep, and mental alertness. Include the topics from Chapter 3:
  • Mental Vitality: Keeping Sharp
  • Physical Fitness: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility and Endurance
  • Food Fitness: The Training Table for Drivers
  • Sleep and Rest
  • Medications: Evaluating Meds that Affect Driving
  • Alcohol Misuse: What They Don't Tell You
  • Tune-ups for the Body
  
   
• Develop a portfolio of mobility resources for participants. Ask class members to list ways each week to get to a new activity or reduce the number of cars on the road. Strategies can include taking advantage of car pools, grocery delivery, transportation opportunities to special events (sometimes special events provide van service), and coupons for shuttle services to airports.

Environment of Driving Wellness

Things to Do:

Create an environment of driving wellness by posting appropriate, brief messages throughout your facility. Here are some examples:

• Tabletop displays in dining areas
• Notices in elevators
• Short messages in bathroom stalls
• Posters or flyers on bulletin boards
• Banners on your organization's website
• Notices in areas where people wait in line

You can also create bookmarks, refrigerator magnets or pocket guides.