Publications

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Free Home & Car Safety Guides

Download PDFs of our helpful guides.
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The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence® has created helpful publications on topics ranging from family conversations about driving safety to home design ideas. Many were developed from research conducted jointly by the Center and the MIT AgeLab.

Driving Safety Guides

Important Notice

The printed versions of At the Crossroads and We Need to Talk are no longer available.

The PDF versions are offered below.
 
Printed versions of Your Road Ahead and Your Road to Confidence Guidebooks are available while supplies last. 
 
The PDF versions of these Guidebooks will remain available.
At the Crossroads: Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia & Driving

At the Crossroads

Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia & Driving

This guidebook helps families determine when it’s time for loved ones with dementia to stop driving and helps them cope with driving cessation.
 
Also available in Spanish: En la encrucijada: conversaciones familiares sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer, demencia y conducción de automóviles.

At the Crossroads

Support Group Leaders Kit on Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia and Driving

This kit is a four-session educational workshop for delivery by support group leaders to caregivers on dementia and driving.
In the Driver's Seat: A Guide to Vehicle Technology

In the Driver’s Seat

A Guide to Vehicle Safety Technology

This guide will help you understand and use vehicle safety technology while you are in the driver’s seat.
Your Road Ahead: A Guide to Comprehensive Driving Evaluations

Your Road Ahead

A Guide to Comprehensive Driving Evaluations

This guidebook describes the benefits of having a comprehensive driving evaluation from an occupational therapist with specialized driver evaluation training.
We Need to Talk: Family Conversations with Older Drivers

We Need to Talk

Family Conversations with Older Drivers

This guidebook gives families easy-to-use, practical information to help them plan ahead and initiate productive and caring conversations with older adults about driving safely.
 
Also available in Spanish: Tenemos que hablar: conversaciones familiares con conductores de edad avanzada.

Home Safety Guides

Fire Sense

A Smart Way to Prevent, Detect and Escape Home Fires

Fire safety is not a one-time project. You must continually be on guard against the fire hazards in your home. This valuable booklet can help you and your family prevent, detect and escape home fires.

It Could Happen to Me

Family Conversations About Disaster Planning

Natural disasters don't happen every day, but repercussions can be severe. Having a disaster plan can help prevent loss of life and reduce property damage, lessen stress around recovery and rebuilding, and decrease time it takes to get your life back in order.

Keeping Your Home at Its Best

A Guide to Home Maintenance

This guide offers homeowners tips and information about staying on top of home maintenance tasks, working with service providers, and which smart home technologies to consider.

Modern Ideas, Modern Living

Home Design and Planning for the Lifestyle You Want

This guidebook encourages you to think about the next step in your lifestyle and how to ensure that your home will fit you, and provides information to help you think through the options and talk with people who are important to you about these decisions.

Remodeling Today for A Better Tomorrow

Design Ideas for the Kitchen and Bathroom

This guidebook provides ideas to consider when remodeling your kitchen and bathroom to make it more convenient, comfortable and safe.

Simple Solutions

Practical Ideas and Products to Enhance Independent Living

This guidebook features more than 200 simple design ideas and household products that can make your home more comfortable, convenient and safe.

The Calm Before the Storm

Family Conversations About Disaster Planning, Caregiving, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

This publication helps caregivers better prepare for natural disasters by planning with family, friends and others. It includes worksheets, checklists and helpful resources.

Wildfire Sense

A Guide to Protecting Your Home and Family

This guide describes the steps to take when preparing for a wildfire, including what to do before a wildfire happens, what to consider when evacuating, and tips on re-entry and recovery after a wildfire.