Giving up
driving is a transition that everyone involved wishes to put off as long as
possible. For many older people, the very thought of losing a driver’s license
is upsetting to say the least. And with good reason. As a culture Americans
rely heavily on cars for our everyday lives and to get where we’re going -- to
work, to the doctor, religious services, shopping, visiting friends and
relatives, and sometimes even just to get out for a ride. A vast majority of
seniors equate losing their driving privileges with becoming dependent, feeling
trapped at home, curtailing the freedom to control when and where they can come
and go, and be spontaneous.
It isn’t
always immediately obvious when your senior loved one has reached the point
where it’s time to give up the car keys. The decline of skills necessary to
operate a car safely can occur both suddenly and subtly. There may be a pattern
of close calls, violations like citations for driving too slow or too fast, or
even minor fender benders or collisions. Your loved one may have increasing
difficulty noticing pedestrians, signs, objects, or other vehicles.
Seniors can
also have a readily observable decline in physical abilities that could
interfere with safe driving. Perhaps arthritic joints or other conditions don’t
allow for the full range of motion required to operate a vehicle any longer. He
or she may no longer get the physical activity needed to keep strong and
flexible for the quick reactions needed for driving.
Vision is
obviously a key component of driving ability, and age changes the way our eyes
function. Our peripheral vision narrows, the retina becomes less sensitive to
light and our ability to focus diminishes. Older eyes are also more prone to
cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other vision impairments.
Over one
third of adults over 65 suffer from some form of hearing loss. Poor hearing can
compromise the ability to hear horns, screeching tires, sirens, and other
sounds that would ordinarily alert someone to a potentially dangerous
situation.
Medications
that seniors take can also significantly impair driving. Side effects of many
drugs compromise driving ability by causing drowsiness, blurred vision,
confusion, or tremors. Others can also cause your loved one to be distracted or
unable to concentrate sufficiently to pay attention to road conditions or other
hazards.
As a
caregiver, taking the keys away from your senior may be one of the most
difficult things you ever have to do. But if you suspect that your loved one is
a danger to him or herself or others on the road, don’t wait for a serious
accident to happen before you intervene. Here are some practical ways to assess
your senior loved one’s driving abilities.
- Take several drives with your senior at the wheel. Be an objective observer of his or her demeanor. Is he or she tense, easily irritated by other drivers or does he or she tire more after driving? If so, then your senior may be having some anxiety about driving.
- Is your senior reluctant to drive places, especially at night? Perhaps you senior is becoming aware of his or her own limitations. Ask him or her about it.
- Do you find that his or her reaction time to traffic lights or other diving cues has slowed?
- Is he or she aware of the driving environment? Does he or she tailgate, let the car drift close to the centerline? Do you hear complaints of getting lost more than you used to?
- Walk around his or her car and look for signs of damage that could indicate driving mishaps. If you find more damage than the occasional grocery cart ding, ask him or her to tell you about them.
- Have you observed questionable driving? Ask about any recent tickets for violations or ask if his or her car insurance rate have increased recently.
- Finally, check in with trusted friends or neighbors of your loved one to inquire about his or her driving. They may have observed problems but are reluctant to tell you for fear of invading your loved one’s privacy. Once you break the ice and ask, they may want to help you keep your senior safe.
Age is not an
absolute predictor of driving ability but as a caregiver it’s important to
recognize its impacts on what ultimately counts on the road—performance.
At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that you and your family go through in this transition. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and senior and eldercare issues. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us online.
References
“How to Talk to Elderly Adults about Giving Up the Keys,” by Connie Matthiessen, Senior Editor, www.Caring.com.
“Five Risk Factor for Older Drivers,” by Connie Matthiessen, Senior Editor, www.Caring.com.
“Eight Ways to Assess Your Parent’s Driving,” by Connie Matthiessen, Senior Editor, www.Caring.com.
“Older Driver Safety: Warning Signs and Knowing When to Stop,” by Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Monika White, Ph.D., and Lawrence Robinson. www.helpguide.org/elder/senior_citizen_driving.htm.
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