Lifelines Network Members Sponsor Training Program to Address Unsafe Driving by Seniors

An educational program designed to contribute to the safety and independence of seniors who should no longer be driving, known as Beyond Driving with Dignity, has been sponsored by a number of companies dedicated to serving seniors.
 
Feb. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Eight companies that serve seniors and family caregivers have stepped up to sponsor an innovative educational program designed to contribute to the safety and independence of seniors who should no longer be driving. The Beyond Driving with Dignity Training & Certification class is taking place at The Villas of Belleair in Clearwater, Florida, on March 15th and will educate eldercare professionals to effectively address this pervasive and growing challenge.

Fewer topics are as tough to broach with elderly loved ones or clients than “taking the keys away.” Fortunately, one man is on a mission to save lives by teaching others how to help seniors move from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat with their dignity and independence intact. This man is Matt Gurwell, a former State Trooper and the founder & CEO of Keeping Us Safe, LLC. “Companies sponsor our training because they know firsthand how desperately we need solutions to this growing problem. I so appreciate their support of the mission of Keeping Us Safe.”

Platinum Sponsor Aging Wisely, LLC, a geriatric care management firm, explains “In our many years serving seniors and families in the Tampa Bay area, the issue of senior driving safety comes up time and time again so we know how tough this issue can be for families.  We are proud to sponsor this program in our local community because it not only raises awareness of an important issue, it provides concrete tools for families to better deal with concerns and assist aging loved ones through different stages.”

Also a Platinum Sponsor, Cynthia Touchton, Senior Investment Consultant with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Pinellas County, Florida, empathizes with the desire to drive forever. With Varoom on her license plate, it should come as no surprise that she predicts “someone is going to have to peel my fingers off the wheel of my little black corvette if a day comes that I should no longer be driving, and they better have been trained to deal with my reaction!”  While her focus is the financial security of her clients, Cynthia is sensitive to this issue. “Balancing the need to be safe with the need for independence is no easy task. Having addressed the challenge with my own Mother and many clients, I have a passion for promoting smart solutions to this highly emotional transition in a life.”      

Most people will have to make this difficult transition because nearly all people outlive their driving capability; men by an average of six years and women by an average of 10 years, as reported by the US Department of Health and Human Services. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, roughly 19% of Americans, or 13.9 million people, will need alternatives to driving in order to continue living independently in 2030.

Gold sponsors of the March 15th course in Clearwater include Harmony Home Health, a private duty home health care agency; Montefu Consulting, a Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits consulting firm; Welcome Home Relocation,  a provider of senior move management and home organizing services; Nataly Rubinstein, author of award winning book Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregivers Complete Survival Guide; The Kantner Law Firm, P.L., offering elder and estate planning legal services; and House to Home Relocation, a provider of senior move management and downsizing services. All of the sponsors are members of Lifelines Academy & Network, a company dedicated to preparing businesses, professionals and families to meet the challenges of the aging of America through education and professional collaboration.  To learn more about these companies, visit http://www.lifelinesacademy.com.

Keeping Us Safe, LLC is a national organization based in Cleveland, Ohio, with a mission to provide older drivers and their families with tools necessary to confront the challenging issue of diminishing driving skills in the older driver.  To learn more about Keeping Us Safe’s programs or to enroll in the March 15, 2012, session of the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” Professional Certification program, please visit http://www.keepingussafe.org
or call toll-free 877-907-8841.

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Lifelines Academy & Network educates, connects and promotes a wide variety of businesses and professionals serving the growing aging market. Offering online education and training, marketing services and business support services to companies nationwide.
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