Business offers independence for seniors

Joy Tandberg, a native of McHenry, N.D., is giving local seniors in the Red River Valley a chance to keep their independence.

With more than 35 years of experience as an occupational therapist, Tandberg has all the expertise necessary to help senior citizens live free and independent lives for as long as it's safe to do so.

To help seniors do just that, she recently started her own business, Dak-Minn Driving & Home Evaluations, LLC.

She started her business after working as a driving evaluator with Altru Health in Grand Forks, where she realized how her own private practice might help her patients retain their independence.

"When I worked at Altru in Grand Forks, my patients would call to see if they would have to drive in Grand Forks for their driving evaluation," explains Tandberg. "That tended to cause an increase in stress and anxiety, and therefore they may not do as well.

"This prompted me to open my own private practice providing comprehensive driving evaluations in my client's home communities," she says.

In addition to behind-the-wheel evaluations, Dak-Minn Driving and Home Evaluations also specializes in clinical tests and home assessments, and not just for seniors.

While Tandberg's clientele consists largely of the elderly and those suffering from cognitive decline, someone's ability to live independently can also be impacted by medical conditions and traumatic events - such as a stroke or a fall.

Tandberg's business is designed to help those people lead normal and independent lives. Her advice often leads to modifications and installations in her clients' homes, such as widening doorways, adding handrails or replacing stairs with ramps.

For those unable to drive with standard equipment, there's also options such as hand controls, spinner knobs or a left-foot accelerator.

Tandberg says those options require testing and an endorsement from the state, after she's provided or assisted with the necessary training to get her clients proficient with that equipment. She also says that she's aware of grants and funding resources that may be available depending on the situation.

"I have found a passion for helping people maintain their independence as long as possible," says Tandberg. "Being from a rural community I know how important that is."

Rather than traveling to Fargo or Grand Forks for a stressful driving test in the city, Tandberg's clients can meet with her in the comfort of their own homes; and for both driving and home evaluations, she works with her clients and their family members to review any recommendations.

Tandberg says that her business is particularly useful for those in small communities, who may not always have the same resources available to them as those in the city.

"Our small communities are very underserved when it comes to rehabilitation," she says, "especially in the realm of safety with driving and community mobility."

Dak-Minn Driving and Home Evaluations is helping people live independently throughout eastern North Dakota, including those in the Carrington and New Rockford area.

Those interested can reach Tandberg through her website: dakmindriving.com, or by calling (701) 330-4445. Tandberg notes that she can be contacted for a consultation directly, but any assessments require the referral of a physician.