Table 2.

Tasks and challenges in community settings that have become more difficult with age

Tasks impacted by age-related factors	Reported reasons why each is more difficult
1. Work involving vehicles	Age-related factors specific to these tasks -
In particular:	▪ Arthritis, sore joints, backaches - caused or exacerbated by vehicles and driving
▪ General driving during the day	- Less flexibility, manoeuvrability for getting in and out of cars
▪ Reversing vehicles	- Harder to turn around to look behind/harder to see out of cars
▪ Getting in and out of cars and the 'Day Care' bus	▪ More fatigued for report writing, after driving around during the day
▪ Carrying equipment to/from vehicles and homes eg. baby scales	Exacerbated by:
	▪ Ergonomics of smaller and lower cars ("green policy")
	- Hard to get in and out of, not comfortable, poor seating
	▪ 'Day Care' bus, bumping up and down along the road
	▪ Tight time frames, rushing
	▪ General safety issues related to night and long-distance driving - vision, fatigue, time allowed
2. Work involving home visits	Age-related factors specific to these tasks -
In particular:	▪ Musculoskeletal changes - strength, tone, flexibility, pain and stiffness, backache - caused/exacerbated by vehicles and driving
▪ Carrying equipment to/from vehicles and homes eg. baby scales	▪ Manoeuvring, mobility and stability on feet (with clutter) more difficult when older
▪ Moving around and manoeuvring in cluttered houses	Exacerbated by:
	▪ Home clutter and trip hazards
	▪ Manoeuvrability of equipment
	▪ Home ergonomics and design - narrow bathrooms and doors that don't allow room for manoeuvring