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: | â–ª 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 |
â–ª Getting in and out of cars and the 'Day Care' bus | â–ª More fatigued for report writing, after driving around during the day |
â–ª Carrying equipment to/from vehicles and homes eg. baby scales | Exacerbated by: |
| Â | â–ª Ergonomics of smaller and lower cars ("green policy") |
|  |    - Hard to get in and out of, not comfortable, poor seating |
| Â | â–ª 'Day Care' bus, bumping up and down along the road |
| Â | â–ª Tight time frames, rushing |
| Â | â–ª 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: | â–ª Musculoskeletal changes - strength, tone, flexibility, pain and stiffness, backache - caused/exacerbated by vehicles and driving |
â–ª Carrying equipment to/from vehicles and homes eg. baby scales | â–ª Manoeuvring, mobility and stability on feet (with clutter) more difficult when older |
â–ª Moving around and manoeuvring in cluttered houses | Exacerbated by: |
| Â | â–ª Home clutter and trip hazards |
| Â | â–ª Manoeuvrability of equipment |
| Â | â–ª Home ergonomics and design - narrow bathrooms and doors that don't allow room for manoeuvring |