Kingston, NY – With the goal of keeping seniors safe and independent on the road, County Executive Mike Hein, together with the Ulster County Office for the Aging and Ulster Federal Credit Union, will be hosting a program called Keeping Seniors in the Driver’s Seat. On Wednesday, May 16 from 9 AM to noon at the Business Resource Center in Room 114, a panel of experts will present relevant information as well as answer questions seniors may have about driving. Call 845-340-3578 for reservations.

Keeping Seniors in the Driver’s Seat is a part of County Executive Hein’s efforts to make Ulster County the healthiest county in New York State. “A big fear older Ulster County residents have is loosing their freedom and mobility when they give up their car keys,” said County Executive Hein. “This program will help to provide the tools needed for seniors to be able to drive safely and maintain their autonomy longer.”

Kathy Minard, a senior citizen from Saugerties attended last year’s Keeping Seniors in the Driver’s Seat program and recalls how informative she found the presentation. Among many other topics, Kathy recalls learning, “how to put my seatbelt on properly and how to adjust my side mirrors to get the most benefits while driving.” She highly recommends this class to other seniors.

Seniors represent an ever-growing population in Ulster County and in our country. In 2008 there were 32 million licensed drivers age 65 and older in the United States, a 20 percent increase in this age group since 1999. And almost 15% of Ulster County’s residents are people 65 and older.