senior Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are aging differently than any generation in U.S. history. Today, older Americans remain more active later in life, working longer and engaging in hobbies and recreational activities. It is estimated that by 2030, nearly one in five adults will be 65 and older. In 2050, this group is projected to reach 88 million - more than double the 40 million in 2010. This will lead to a significant increase in older adults driving vehicles for both necessity and pleasure. Unfortunately vision, cognitive skills and motor functions decline as we age. As many as 5,288 people age 65 and older were killed and 187,000 were injured in traffic accidents, according to 2009 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That group accounted for 16 percent of all traffic deaths and 8 percent of the injured, but accounted for only 13-percent of the population. As the living 65 and over demographic increases to 20 percent of the population in 2030, the number of accidents and fatalities among this group is expected to increase. Most states have minimum vision requirements to possess a driver’s license. A 2006 Vision Council report indicates that the 10 states with the highest rate of fatal crashes include four that require no vision screening for license renewal and four that only require vision screenings at intervals of eight or more years. The Vision Council also reported that only 20 states require more frequent vision screenings for older drivers. Importantly, there are proactive measures seniors can take to preserve and enhance their vision. Many clinical research studies have demonstrated that older drivers can improve their vision by eating foods rich in the nutrients zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein or taking eye vitamins containing these nutrients. These & nutrients have been scientifically proven to enhance driving vision and driver confidence. Your eye care professional and the American Optometric Association website are excellent sources of information regarding nutrition and eye health. Glare is a common complaint among older drivers, particularly at night. When a driver is “blinded” by an oncoming car’s lights, they are literally “driving blind” for a period of time until vision recovers. Studies have demonstrated that recovery time from bright light-induced glare can be reduced by as much as five seconds by increasing macular pigment density through zeaxanthin and lutein supplementation. Driving safety is important at any age, but as our population ages at an unprecedented pace, proactively taking care of your vision is vital to safety and independence. Courtesy BPT Baby boomers DRIVING VISION YOU DESERVE THE EXPERTS! • American Physical Therapy Association Certified Geriatric Specialist • American Physical Therapy Association Certified Exercise Experts for Aging Adults • Pelvic Floor/ Girlde Rehabilitation Specialist Call (516) 488-8808 today to schedule your evaluation. st347)242-3200 1999 Marcus Avenue Suite M15, Lake Success, NY 11042 and 69-61 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378 www.AgeWellPT.com “No other facility can top AgeWell.” E. Hendrics, Queens NY of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Place
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