It’s been four months since Seniors Advocacy Service began offering Touch Screen Computer Awareness and already several people have taken advantage of the service.
Designed to assist people either booked for the Drive Able Assessment or those wanting to be prepared should they be required to take the assessment.
So far Lyle Orchison, principle presenter of the program, has assisted 15 people with two sessions each.
The first session familiarizes the client with the touch screen and finger pad.
“Clients tend to be a little anxious and nervous,” Orchison said.
“Most have no computer experience at all and even those with some computer experience, it doesn’t usually include touch screen technology.”
He said they introduce the technology through playing games which test for various cognitive competencies all the while having fun.
“After a couple of tries, most are much more comfortable with the technology,” he said.
The second session, which is booked within two weeks of the first, the client reviews the DriveAble practice session which covered the six assessment tasks including: motor speed and control; span of attention field; spatial judgement and decision making; speed of attentional shifting; executive functioning (verbal instruction); and identification of driving situations.
“The beauty of this program is we can stop and review at any time,” Orchison said.
“The video isn’t interactive so once they understand what is expected in each task, we return to the games computer module and further enhance their touch screen skills.”
DriveAble’s in-office assessment tool is a
science-based driving evaluation designed to identify at-risk drivers, regardless of age. A recommendation for the assessment may come from a person’s family physician, concerned family members or others.
Often the family physician, who is usually visited one or more times a year by patients, are likely to be the first person in authority to encounter a driver who has become medically impaired. It’s recommended that physicians notify licensing bodies of concern regarding competence to drive.
Physicians can administer a SIMARD ND screening test which can help identify if the patient needs to be reported to the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles and a subsequent DriveAble Assessment.
At a recent Council of Senior Citizens Organizations (COSCO) conference, Orchison reviewed statistics which suggest that of the letters sent to 80 years plus individuals, only two per cent were further referred to DriveAble Assessment.
“Just turning 80 doesn’t automatically send you to DriveAble,” he added.
Anyone interested in the free, touch screen program or to book an appointment for your two sessions call 250-747-8363, leave a message and someone will call you bac
