Volunteers sought for driving decisions project

University of Queensland researchers are seeking help from people aged more than 65 who have recently given up driving.

“We would like to talk to people about their experiences,” PhD student in Occupational Therapy Jacki Liddle said.

“We are also interested in talking to family members, health professionals and community workers who have been involved with an older person giving up driving.”

Ms Liddle said the research project aimed to find out the impact of "retiring from driving" for an older person, and to develop a program to help in this process.

She said later this year the project would also seek to interview people over the age of 65 who were still driving, and those over 65 who had never driven.

In the first phase UQ researchers would conduct an in depth interview at venues chosen by participants. In the second phase, volunteers would be asked to help with several questionnaires. Participants would receive a copy of the research results.

For more information, or to participate in the research, contact Ms Liddle or Dr Kryss McKenna at the Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Queensland (telephone 07 3365 2649, mobile 0422 223 527).