PNWU OT Students Help Older Drivers Rediscover Comfort and Confidence
The parking lot of Yakima’s Harman Center filled steadily on Wednesday, December 3, with older adults arriving for Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences’ (PNWU’s) first annual CarFit event.
Organized by PNWU’s School of Occupational Therapy as part of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, the event brought together students, faculty, and community partners to help older drivers improve their comfort and confidence behind the wheel.
CarFit – a national program developed by AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association – evaluates how well an older adult “fits” inside their vehicle and identifies adjustments that can enhance safety, visibility, and ease of movement. The process requires careful listening, problem-solving, and the ability to translate clinical knowledge into practical, everyday solutions: abilities that define what it means to be a PNWU OT student.
“CarFit gives older adults the tools they need to feel safer and more in control when they drive.”
“CarFit gives older adults the tools they need to feel safer and more in control when they drive,” said Dr. Amy Jennings, assistant professor in PNWU’s School of Occupational Therapy, who helped lead the event. “Even small changes in vision, flexibility, strength, or height as we age can affect how comfortable and confident we feel behind the wheel.”
Over the course of the afternoon, the interprofessional CarFit team – which included OT students, faculty from OT and PT, staff, and a community occupational therapist –completed assessments for twenty-two drivers, who each brought their own questions, concerns, and mobility challenges.
Some worried about blind spots. Others struggled with seat positioning or discomfort while driving. A few arrived unsure of what to expect, but left with adjustments that made an immediate difference.
“A program like CarFit helps reduce [driving] stress by making sure drivers and their vehicles are working together.”
“Driving today involves more traffic, more technology, and more complicated roadways,” Dr. Jennings explained. “A program like CarFit helps reduce that stress by making sure drivers and their vehicles are working together.”
As students guided participants through seat and mirror adjustments, safe body mechanics for entering and exiting vehicles, and strategies for improved visibility, the heart of occupational therapy came into focus: helping people maintain independence, mobility, and connection to their communities.
“I didn’t know it could feel like this,” said one participant, stepping out of her vehicle after an assessment. “I feel ten years younger sitting in there!”
The event was made possible by partnerships across Yakima, underscoring the importance of community-based programs that support safe and healthy aging.
The Harman Center, a vital resource for older adults – and one facing significant budget pressures this year – collaborated closely with PNWU to host the assessments. Bellevue Healthcare also contributed significantly, donating adaptive equipment that participants could use immediately. Several drivers learned to use an auto cane — a device that makes entering and exiting a vehicle easier — and three individuals took one home after being trained by PNWU’s OT students.
For the students, the experience served as a real-world extension of their coursework. It also provided an opportunity to refine clinical reasoning, communication, and observational skills while witnessing the practical impact of occupational therapy on everyday life.
As PNWU’s OT program continues to grow, the event highlighted the essential role occupational therapists play — quietly, skillfully, and with a focus on enabling people to live safely and independently.
The School of Occupational Therapy plans to continue offering CarFit each year, expanding its reach and deepening its role in supporting Yakima’s aging population.
