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News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Marilyn Palmer, Avon Park, takes part in a Car Fit event Saturday morning at South Florida Community College in Avon Park.

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published: Sunday, November 15, 2009

Car Fit helps senior drivers stay safe

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- Marilyn Palmer of Avon Park stopped by the Car Fit event at South Florida Community College Saturday morning because she was not comfortable with the placement of her side mirrors.

She was worried, she said, because "I can't see what's coming up behind me."

That's exactly the kind of problem the Car Fit program was designed to catch. The solution was to get two concave mirrors to attach to the side mirrors, allowing for a better view.

"I feel safer knowing my blind spots are covered," Palmer said when she was done.

Saturday's Car Fit event was supported with grants from the Corporation for Community and National Service and support from South Florida Community College, volunteers from the college's Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the AARP and local high schools.

Car Fit uses specially trained volunteers to help fit seniors to their cars. A 12-point inspection is conducted to determine if the driver is high enough in the seat, can reach the pedals safely, has the car mirrors properly positioned, or needs a special aid. When deficiencies are found, experts recommend adjustments.

For example, some elderly individuals can seat themselves, but are unable to swing their leg into the car. There is a strap with a loop at one end so a person puts their foot into the loop, and pulls their leg in by hand.

Or there are people who have trouble turning the key in the ignition. Extenders have been invented to attach to the key that make it easier to turn.

In addition to fitting the person to the car, Cat Fit volunteers check the car out for dings and scrapes or other warning signs that the driver may have be having trouble controlling the automobile.

An occupational therapist also is a part of the team, and the last person a driver sees. The therapist walks with the driver around the car and observes their physical condition and flexibility.

Kris Schmidt, who heads the RSVP at SFCC, said she and Jim McQuigg, Pat Dease and Bill Gates (no, not that Bill Gates) are all trained by AARP and the American Automobile Association and have held Car Fit check-ups before.

In April, for example, the team saw 37 cars in four hours during an event held in Lake Placid.

Schmidt said she would love to do another event. She urges organizations to call her if they are interested in holding an event themselves. She said the equipment is already on hand and would be loaned and trained volunteers would be provided. The only thing the organization needs is open space for the cars. Call 784-7189 for more information.

Schmidt wanted the community to know RSVP is always looking for volunteers. It is a clearing house that can match an individual to an organization or task. She has 503 volunteers who last year alone donated 68,000 hours to county organizations. A savings for the county, Schmidt said, of $1 million.