Driving is a key IADL; however, some occupational therapy practitioners are hesitant to assess driving for which of the following reasons?
A) Public transportation is often convenient and available
B) Lack of confidence in making decisions about driving capability
C) Cost and time required for driving evaluations
D) Lack of assessment tools

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When considering the IADL of driving, the identification process is not more complex, but it is more complicated. With driving, the potential risk is not just to the client and maybe the caregivers but also to the general public, as the negative result is a crash that often involves more than one person. While the fear of making a decision about driving is often the reason occupational therapy practitioners do not have the confidence to address driving (Dickerson, Schold Davis, & Chew, 2011), driving and community mobility is within the scope of occupational therapy practice and the ethical obligation of the practitioner to identify risk (Slater, 2012). Practitioners cannot make decisions about driving licensing, as only the state licensing agencies grant licenses. However, because occupational therapy practitioners observe functional performance and identify risk, they have been identified as the "go-to" profession for driver evaluation and rehabilitation (Society & Pomidor, 2016). Unless occupational therapy practitioners step up to address this IADL with all clients, it could be another practice area lost to other, less qualified service providers (who are without or have less medical training or education) who are already devising certificate programs that purport to be able to evaluate older adults effectively (Dickerson, 2012; Dickerson, 2014).

Driving Is a Key IADL; However, Some Occupational Therapy Practitioners