In celebration of Canada’s recovery from the horrible 2014 winter that seemed never-ending, we are excited to present our 2014 spring issue that focuses on assessing driving fitness in older adults. Wernham et al. have done a prospective comparison of the SIMARD MD to overall clinical impression of driving fitness.(1) On the education side of things, Moorhouse and Hamilton have prospectively examined the effect of a campaign designed to address perceived barriers to assessing driving by primary care providers.(2) Hogan et al., after a modified Delphi procedure, present consensus statements on assessing driving fitness in older adults.(3)
We also are pleased to note the article by Charles et al. that presents core geriatric competencies for both family practice programs and specialized care of the elderly programs.(4) Naslund et al. have examined Canadian Study of Health and Aging data to demonstrate changes in health service utilization costs in the year prior to institutionalization.(5) Baptiste et al. have prepared a qualitative assessment of patient’s perceptions of dining locations in a rehabilitation ward.(6)
Have a great spring!
Cheers,
Dr. Kenneth M. Madden, md, msc, frcp(c)
Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Geriatrics Journal
REFERENCES
- 1.Wernham ML, Jarrett PG, Stewart C, et al. Comparison of the SIMARD MD to clinical impression in assessing fitness to drive in patients with cognitive impairment. Can Geriatr J. 17(2):63–69. doi: 10.5770/cgj.17.100. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Moorhouse P, Hamilton LM. Not if, but when: impact of a driving and dementia awareness and education campaign for primary care physicians. Can Geriatr J. 17(2):70–75. doi: 10.5770/cgj.17.109. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Hogan DB, Scialfa CT, Caird JK. Consensus statements on the assessment of older drivers. Can Geriatr J. 17(2):76–81. doi: 10.5770/cgj.17.111. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Charles L, Triscott JAC, Dobbs BM, et al. Geriatric core competencies for family medicine curriculum and enhanced skill: care of elderly. Can Geriatr J. 17(2):53–62. doi: 10.5770/cgj.17.95. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Naslund JA, Sauter AH, Gutman G, et al. Increased health service utilization costs in the year prior to institutionalization: findings from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Can Geriatr J. 17(2):45–52. doi: 10.5770/cgj.17.82. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Baptiste F, Egan M, Dubouloz-Wilner CJ. Geriatric rehabilitation patients’ perceptions of unit dining locations. Can Geriatr J. 17(2):38–44. doi: 10.5770/cgj.17.54. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]