Driving and the Elderly

Has aging affected your driving skills?

EvEbb — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:16:29 GMT

Hi!

Has aging affected your driving skills?

What did you do?

I just read a very interesting article on Driving Statistics for seniors: http://seniors.lovetoknow.com/Elderly_Driving_Statistics

Regards, Ev

Holiday Travel Tips for Elderly - Senior Living Medicare Health News

medigap360 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:06:44 GMT

Why’s we never suggest that you take your eye off the major healthcare issues of the day like the future
of Medicare, comparing Medigap insurance plans, and finding the right prescription drug plan, we do know it’s important to get back to some of the joys of living from time to time: family, friends, eating turkey and falling asleep on the couch while the Dallas Cowboys play football.

Yep, the holiday season is nearly upon us again. One of the great things about the holidays for many seniors is they have more time to spend with their family and loved ones. However, that often means braving the airports at holiday time and battling the crowds. Thanksgiving and Christmas time still bring in more travelers than almost any flying periods during the year. Also, as most of us are aware, airlines are notorious for jacking up airline ticket prices for holiday travel. However, there are some ways to avoid (or at least to minimize) some of the holiday air travel cost and madness.

The Best Days to Travel for the Holidays
Rick Seaney, CEO of airfare deal website FareCompare, shared a wide range of holiday travel tips on USA Today recently. Rick points out the travel days that will cost you more over the holidays:
“Avoid the busiest (and most expensive) travel days: Airline surcharge dates tell you everything you need to know; the Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) is a date to avoid, and try not to fly on Dec. 22, 23, 26 and Jan. 2, either. If worse comes to worst, try to schedule your itinerary so you fly on only one of the "most expensive" days, and you'll still see some savings.”

Rick also suggests you avoid procrastination: “Don't wait 'til the last minute: Since anything is possible, sure, there might be a terrific last minute bargain, but it's far more likely that procrastinators won't get a seat at any price.”

Holidays = Cheap Hotels
If you want to spend your holidays exploring the country or just going on a much needed vacation, there are some deals to be had. While airlines will do everything in their power to ensure that you pay as much as possible for that ticket, you can find some great deals on hotels. Even hotels in major tourist destinations like Vegas and New York will sometimes offer deals during the holiday season. Also, another way to save on all your holiday travel costs is to find a vacation package that offers airfare and hotel (and rental car in some cases). Often, these vacation packages provide a combined cost for air/hotel that is pretty difficult to find when booking separately.

Finding Cheap Holiday Destinations
Again, if you’re traveling to the family or waiting for the family to travel to you, there are destinations out there that won’t cost you as much as others. The key is finding those spots that enjoy their off-season during the holiday season. In some cases, this might mean braving a colder destination or enjoying some time in a beach town without spending too much time on the beach (that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time, though). If cold beaches aren’t your thing, you can head overseas. A number of European destinations see peak airfare costs during the summer, so the holiday season actually offers lower rates on flights. Also, winter in Europe can be something special:

“The Christmas and New Year’s season abroad is unlike any you would ever experience in America. In Europe, winter brings opera season, Christmas Markts, and great food and drink will warm you up like it could never do in the summer. With snow-capped roofs, cobblestone streets, and brisk air, some places seem like they were made to be a wintertime postcard.” (from I Fly Nonstop)

Whether you’re heading out to see the family or embarking on a holiday vacation of your own, it’s likely you’re going to run into large crowds and some pricey fares. However, there are deals to be found, and if you start early and spend time searching for them, you can snag them for yourself.

When Dad Should Stop Driving

Ray Gillo — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:48:41 GMT

When Dad Should Stop Driving

Have Transportation Alternatives Planned Before Talking With Elderly Parent Marion Somers may be an expert on caring for elderly people, but that didn't mean it was a cinch persuading her father to quit driving.

"It was one of the most serious and complicated issues that I've had to deal with," says Somers, author of "Elder Care Made Easier."

Taking the keys away from an aging parent means navigating tricky issues of independence and role reversal. But the decision is too serious to ignore. Drivers over 75 have the second-highest rate, after teenagers, of fatal crashes per mile driven, according to Federal Highway Administration data from 2001.

Dan Mankin of Sun Valley, Idaho, says that his father, who lived in Santa Barbara, California, before he died at age 83, took it personally when Mankin took the car. "It hurt us all to see him so angry," says Mankin, "but the consequences could have been so horrendous."

Independence is the main reason seniors are hesitant to give up driving, explains Janice Austin, an elder care resource counselor at the University of Kentucky. "At a time in their life when their aging bodies may limit them physically, a car may be one of the few ways seniors continue to feel self-sufficient."

10 Questions to Ask
Not all older drivers experience deterioration in their driving skills. But the changes that often come with age -- vision and hearing loss, slower reaction times, chronic illness -- can affect driving ability. There are important questions to consider, according to Somers and the National Institute on Aging. "If you can answer yes to just one of these questions, it could be time to take your elder off the road," says Somers, who is also a geriatric-care manager.

Is the person a competent driver during the day but incompetent at night?
Does the driver have drastically reduced peripheral vision, even if he or she can otherwise see 20/20 with corrective lenses?
Does he or she do well driving locally but struggle at higher speeds or when directions are needed?
Is the driver hitting curbs, missing turns or putting pedestrians at risk?
Has he or she been in an accident that was deemed his or her fault?
Do other drivers honk when this person is at the wheel?
Does the driver get lost, even on familiar roads?
Does the driver say that cars or pedestrians seem to appear out of nowhere?
Have family, friends or doctors expressed any worries about the person's driving?
Is the person driving less because he or she is no longer as confident about driving?
Having the talk
It helps to have a thoughtful, caring plan in place before saying anything, says Harriet Vines, author of "Age Smart: How to Age Well, Stay Fit and Be Happy."

Her suggestions:

Be empathetic. "Imagine how you would feel if you were in your parent's place," Vines says.
Build a case. Keep a record of traffic tickets, fender-benders or any other incidents that worried you, including the time, date, location and a brief description.
Arrange an open meeting with concerned family members to help, not confront. Keep communications honest, open and non-accusatory. Say things like, "We're concerned," "We care" or "We don't want you to get hurt or to hurt others." Refer to the record.
Plan a gradual curtailment of driving -- for example, no children in the car, no highways, no driving above 45 mph.
Agree on circumstances that will signal it's time to give up the car keys.
What if the conversation doesn't go well, or you're unable to begin it? "Asking a physician to discuss the issue is a good alternative," says the University of Kentucky's Austin. "Advice from a doctor is often highly regarded."

Arrange for alternatives
If it's time for your parent to stop driving, investigate transportation alternatives before taking away the keys. These can include city buses, taxis, chauffeur services, and shuttles offered by churches, retirement communities, senior centers or local agencies on aging. Friends and family members also may be willing to drive, as Somers found with her father -- "His lady friend was happy to pick him up for their dates" -- and food and medications can usually be delivered.

Somers even bought her father, who was 77 when he passed away, an adult tricycle for short trips to the grocery store. "The bike gave him transportation, exercise and fresh air," Somers says. "The end result was that he started to meet more people because he was out and about and more visible."

None of this took place overnight. Somers spent almost two months making phone calls and traveling between New York and her father's home in Florida, but the planning paid off. Her father soon became accustomed to not driving. "It was an emotional issue," Somers says, "but I had to make sure that he wouldn't kill himself or somebody else. If I had to do it all over again, I would."

Does age difference affect driving performance?

sethm — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 12:41:25 GMT

Hey guys, I'm doing a research and I need your help. I need to know your answers to this question - Does age difference affect driving performance? How?

When is it the right time for your parent to stop driving?

encompassseniorsolutions — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:39:16 GMT

Article from Encompass Senior Solutions on elderly driving. "George, 82, has been driving since he was 15. He’s driven coast to coast multiple times as a young man and always enjoyed being the designated chauffeur during family vacations and on Sunday drives to the country. George still likes to drive to the grocery and chat with the clerks. He still likes to drive to the gas station to fill up his car the second Saturday of each month. It’s second nature to him, as driving has been a part of his life since he was a teenager. The thought of giving it up simply goes against his decades-old daily routines." http://encompassomaha.socialmediacontractors.net/2012/07/20/how-to-stop-an-elderly-person-from-driving/

cheap dentist

abey12343 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:21:04 GMT

http://www.onteethwhitening.com/articles/cheap-dentist/

When and how to take away the car keys

kgbkind — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:56:39 GMT

When and how to take away the car keys

Overall, many older adults are capable of driving safely, even into their seventies and eighties. But people age differently. Several factors place seniors at much greater risk for road accidents. More important, a person 70 or older who is involved in a car accident is more likely to be seriously hurt, more likely to require hospitalization and much more likely to die than a young person involved in the same crash. Knowing the risk factors and warning signs of an older loved one who has become unable to safely operate a vehicle will help you gauge when it’s time to take away the keys. There are also strategies to help you talk to seniors sensitively about giving up driving and present them with practical transportation alternatives.

Changes that come with age can adversely affect driving ability. These include:

Visual decline—including poor depth perception, narrowed peripheral vision, poor judgment of speed and poor night vision, along with increased sensitivity to bright sunlight, headlights and glare.

Hearing loss—especially the ability to hear important warning sounds while driving.
Limited mobility and decreased flexibility—which increases response time slows pedal selection and steering control, and limits the ability to turn one’s head to look for hazards.
Chronic conditions—such as rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, heart disease or diabetes can impair driving skills, even suddenly.
Medications—as older people often take more medications, which, in combination or taken with alcohol, can result in risky unpredictable and dangerous side-effects
and drug interactions.
Drowsiness—is often due to medication side-effects or sleep difficulties that come with age, resulting in daytime tiredness and an increased tendency to doze off during the day (or while driving).
Dementia or brain impairment—makes driving more dangerous and more frustrating. It can also cause delayed reactions and confusion on the road.

When it’s time to hang up the keys:
Talking to a relative about his or her need to stop driving is one of the most difficult discussions you may ever face. However, it’s better if it comes in the form of advice from you or someone he or she knows rather than by an order from a judge or the DMV. One of the main reasons seniors are reluctant to give up driving is that it is one of the few ways they can continue to feel self-sufficient. The discussion becomes even more difficult when the person still maintains most of his or her faculties, just not those that enable safe driving.

How to approach “The Talk:"
It helps to have a thoughtful, caring plan in place before saying anything, says Harriet Vines,
author of “Age Smart: How to Age Well, Stay Fit and Be Happy.” She suggests:

Be empathetic. “Imagine how you would feel if you were in your parent’s place,” Vines says. Ask others to join in the meeting. It helps to involve other family members in the discussion—to help, but not to confront.
Keep the conversation non-accusatory, honest and between “adults,” not “child and parent.” Say things like, “We’re concerned,” “We care” or “We don’t want you to get hurt or to hurt others.” Once you’ve both come to an agreement, you can continue to support your loved one in ways beyond just offering rides.
Encourage the senior to use positive language to describe their situation to others and help them gain comfort in asking for assistance.
Help the senior make a schedule. He or she can plan activities and combine trips on oneday when a caregiver can drive them.

When driving is not safe any longer

Carla Muller — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:31:00 GMT

When I talk to seniors who are putting themselves and others at risk I usually tell them the story of a resident I had a few years ago. This gentleman was quite insistent that he was not going to give up his keys. He explained that he didn't travel the highways or drive at night any longer. He felt he had adapted his driving to the changes he was also seeing in himself quite well. After he had been living in assisted living for about 3 months he went out to run an errand. A few hours later, we got a call from his daughter saying that he had been going down a residential street and a child ran out into the street and he hit her and she was killed. It was a long process for this gentleman. I would have to say that he was never the same man.

I will always ask a senior I am talking to on this subject if they could bear this same burden for the remainder of their life. There is usually a very short time frame and they will relinquish their keys not wanting to take the ristk of having this same thing happen to them.

Children who have Caregiver responsibilities

vickyi — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:59:53 GMT

Check out this article highlighting the extent to which families rely on their children for key caregiving responsibilities

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/caregiving/articles/project_supports_children_who_have_caregiver_responsibilities.html#

Third party evaluation

Amy Bryant — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:54:29 GMT

We have a terrific resource in the Capital Region of New York - an occupational therapist who is a certified driving instructor and driving rehabilitation specialist. With a written prescription from a physician, he will perform a comprehensive clinical and on-road evaluation of the individual's ability to drive safely. He then sends the report to their physician.

A third party objective evaluation is an effective way to circumvent the dynamics of adult children and/or physicians having to address the sensitive issue of driving.

Mom wants to drive she has had a stroke and cant talk

mickymar — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:29:45 GMT

Hello!
My mom has had a stroke which she is unable to talk really well (she is getting speech therapy) and her walking is not very well. When asked questions she cannot convey what it is she is thinking really well. For example if I ask : "do you mean pills?" she will say no and then if I reask the question at a later time she will say yes. She also has short term memory loss.

Am I wrong in not wanting her to drive?? She seems to think I am the monster here.

Your thoughts and input would be deeeeply appppreciated![:'(]

How do I keep my elderly parent from driving when legal means won't help?

n8song — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:59:01 GMT

My 82-year old father is memory-impaired from anesthesia after 1992 surgery and a 1998 accident that left him with several small brain lesions. His impairment is mostly directional in nature, although he does have some trouble with remembering people also. Recently he has gotten lost twice while driving, missing 4 - 6 hours each time with law enforcement and family out looking for him. The last time this happened, he entered a major highway from an exit ramp and drove almost 5 miles into oncoming traffic before trying to get off the road and colliding with another vehicle in the process of getting to the shoulder. There were no injuries, but both cars were totaled. Although the state highway patrolman at the accident scene said Dad's license was "GONE" at that point, apparently he did not meet the requirements for revocation because no one was hurt, he was not speeding, and he was not substance- or alcohol-impaired. The only thing DMV could do was make him retest to keep his license, and at this point he has aced the written, vision, and road tests. Once some medical paperwork is complete, apparently he will be allowed to resume driving. Family members have been in touch with the doctor's office to make sure they are aware of the situation and the medical history leading to it, but the medical professionals are noncommittal in their response. Law enforcment seems to be as frustrated as we are. The car insurance company originally balked at covering the claim, but now the case has been assigned to a new representative who has made the decision to pay. My mother doesn't want to see my father "hurt" and is enabling him to continue down this path by driving him to the DMV for testing, delivering paperwork to the doctor's office, handling all the insurance dealings, and even cancelling his scheduled cognitive testing so that the results could not be used against him.

At this point I am a loss to know what to do, as it looks like Dad will have to kill someone before he will lose his driving privileges. Are there options when police, DMV, medical, and insurance cannot / will not help? All attempts at calm discussion with both parents, separately and together, have been rebuffed. My sister tried as well, and Dad got very mean and nasty with her. Any advice would be appreciated ...thank you in advance!!!

Too Old to Drive - The Decision

Ray Gillo — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:09:53 GMT

One of the worst decisions we ever have to make for someone else -- hang up their car keys. From age related memory issues, Alzheimers or dementia. How can you be gentle? I came across this article the other day, by a man who had to tell his dad it was time to give up the car. Our car keys, indeed our entire key ring, becomes very symbolic over a life time. It's a symbol of adulthood, independence, skill and ownership. Giving up the privilege of driving when you haven't done anything wrong makes a heavy day.The older man in the article presented perhaps the saddest case. There are some ways to accomplish this task with a little less anxiety. When we had to make the decision to talk to my father about driving, he was 82. We enlisted the aid of his longtime physician.We explained to the doctor that Dad's driving skills were deteriorating. He had had a minor fender bender; had tried to sell his brand new car, and often couldn't remember where he had parked it or where he was going. Now that in itself isn't traumatic, I forget where I put the car, too, but you get the picture. Dad was in about stage three of Alzheimer's disease. It seemed every day we came up against another stumbling block, or another reason to feel really down about dad's condition.His doctor pointed us toward the positive side -- the joy of having dad with us. The joy of having him still recognize all of us. That worked for us. But the car thing was a concern.We knew Dad always respected authority, especially medical experts. If the doctor told him to take medicine, then by God Dad would take it. If the doctor told him to lose 5 pounds, you can bet that 5 pounds would be gone. Lots of older people are like that. So we decided, as I said, to see what the doctor had to say. He volunteered to be the heavy.He sat Dad down. Chatted. How's the new great-grand child? How's life treating you? Normal, homey things.Then he said, "Rudy, I hear you're having some issues with the car?""Yeah, a lady hit me the other day, and then I couldn't find her," Dad said.They talked for a bit - about increased dosage of memory meds, the natural progression of aging and the illness. The doctor was professional, non-threatening, warm and nurturing. No tears or arguing. You could feel his sense of concern, but also his calm assertiveness.Dad listened. He looked like he might object. I wouldn't have blamed him. But, as I said, he always listened to the doctor. In this case, not driving was the right thing to do because the doctor said so. It took responsibility from us. It ensured that Dad wouldn't be angry with us for taking away his car, something he could never have understood. He had been our authority figure.My suggestion is, when your spouse, your parents, or someone you care about needs to stop driving, don't be afraid of the decision. Their life, other people's lives, and perhaps your own may depend on your courage and wisdom. But you don't have to be the villain, carrying the responsibility on your shoulders. Ask the doctor or a counselor for help. You might ask a pastor or a good friend.Asking for help when you're dealing with a loved one's losing capacity in one way or another isn't the coward's way out. It doesn't mean you're not strong or brave. You simply recognize your love is more important to that person than your control or authority could ever be. Sometimes you just have to offer your strength in support of tough decisions..

Atlanta, GA - AARP Driver Safety Class: Merrill Gardens at Dunwoody

Sharon Egitton — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:56:50 GMT

AARP Driver Safety Class: This course is geared to the safety needs of the older driver.

**Most insurance companies offer a discount on the premium of those who successfully complete this course.

Topics will include:

Defensive driving techniques
New traffic laws & rules of the road
How to deal with aggressive drivers
How to safely use anti-lock brakes, air bags & safety belts

RSVP by Monday, October 10th to 404.252.7974

Cost: $14 ($12 for AARP members) Merrill Gardens will provide lunch for $5/person. Attendees may bring their own lunch, if desired.

Class will run from 9:30AM to 4:00PM at Merrill Gardens at Dunwoody (1460 S. Johnson Ferry Rd., Atlanta, GA 30319)

Possible liability issues for families with unsafe elderly drivers

Community User — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:59:42 GMT

A family I am currently working with has a father suffering from dementia that has had 2 driving tests and failed. He is going for a third that the family is hoping will show him he really needs to let someone else do the driving to keep him and others safe.

There is also a possible legal liability issue for families that do not intervene when an elderly loved one is not capable of safe driving anymore. Anyone injured as a result of an unsafe elderly driver might pursue legal means to recover any medical bills and also additional damages in possibly large amounts.

Transportation Options to remain independent

vickyi — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:53:49 GMT

I recently joined a volunteer organization providing rides for seniors 65 and over and individuals with visual impairments. Volunteers have the privilege of taking participants to doctor's appointments, shopping, visits with friends, and enjoying their wonderful life stories. Participants pay a small yearly fee and a mileage charge with each ride averaging half the cost of a taxi service. The program was started in Portland, Maine in 1995. Nationally, the goal is to build a connected and coordinated transportation service for the aging population. Local affiliates exist in Illinois, Kentucky, Charleston South Carolina, N. Central Connecticut, Orlando Florida, and Santa Monica California. Check out their website itnamerica.org for local contacts. Consider joining as a volunteer or sharing this service with your families.

THE DMV

belinda b — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:46:55 GMT

I know we all complain about the DMV, but one thing they did for a family was revoked a license of someone dementia.

this family was literally afraid of their loved one, who has dementia and WAS DRIVING. I had the family get a copy of the physicians report (they had Power Of Attorney) and they sent it to the DMV without signing their names, just a nice cover letter explaining this individual would NOT give up the car. THE DMV immediately, and fast too, 2 wks had that licensed suspended and a letter in the mail to the senior that he can NO LONGER drive. He never knew WHO turned him in, he thought the DMV has their ways.......

Belinda Battistelli

Eldercare Advisor

Where do you turn when there seem to be no options?

flash526 — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:27:37 GMT

My mother is 90yr old, lives alone and has always been very independent and listens to no one. If anyone tries to stop her from doing just what she wants to do, her wrath is mean and extremely cruel. She suffers from dimentia, but her meanness and unpredictability is not something new. Her doctor keeps telling me that she should not be driving and that she needs to be in a nursing home, but he doesn't understand the financial situation or how impossible she is to control. She was recently hospitalized due to not taking her medications correctly. When she was released, I took the opportunity to tell her that I needed to "borrow" her car for a while. She was furious and after 3 days of constant verbal abuse from her, I returned the car and a heated verbal argument ensued. I didn't hold my tongue as I have been able to do up to this point and the result was that she called the police and reported that I had "assaulted" her and attempted to "steal" her car. Thank God, the police understood and realized that the bruises on her arms were the result of the IV's from being in the hospital. In the past, I had tried the battery trick with the car, but she picked up the phone and called a repair service to come out and tow her car to the mechanic and ended up paying hundreds of dollars to have it repaired. She has been lost twice and both times missing for 4 to 6 hours before showing up where she was supposed to be. She not only pays her car payment, but also I recently discovered that she is paying hundreds of dollars for 2 different warranty services on her car, as well as her lender has taken out single interest insurance on top of the regular insurance that she carries. She has sent hundreds of dollars to foreign countries for lottery scams and she only receives Social Security and a small retirement check. She has alienated all members of her family and although I have 3 brothers, no one will have anything to do with her except me. I have decided that I can no longer put myself in harms way trying to deal with her and I don't know what is going to happen from this point. I am at my wit's end and I don't know where to turn. Any advice?

Senior Driving Safety

sharonkolenda — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:31:02 GMT

I have an aunt who drives down a well traveled road by the community college going about 5 miles an hour hitting the brakes for no reason. Well, unless you consider that her macular degeneration, osteoporosis might have something to do with it and that she's well into her 80's. She creates a huge backup everytime she goes out and is annoyed when they beep the horn ("What's their problem"). Has been in several accidents, all of which resulted in the other driver getting a ticket. However, we know that her driving has created an unsafe environment and she should be the one charged but it's never the case.

I've found thru AAA a SeniorDrivers.org website there are several tools like "Roadwise review", "Drivers 55+" and How to help an older driver" that were helpful in addressing the subject of diminished ability and driving capabilities.

Watching Dad Drive on the Sidewalk

Faith Demorest — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:53:07 GMT

For months I knew that my dad should not be driving. Even though he was only 74 years old, diabetes had damaged his eyesight and his reaction time was slow. He would pick up his grandchildren to take them for ice-cream and I would watch her pull out of the driveway with fear and a huge sense of anxiety. One warm sunny day, he stopped to pick up the children to go swimming in his backyard pool. I had decided to run to the store and I pulled out of the neighborhood only to see my father driving on the sidewalk!! You can imagine how horrified I was!! Fortunately no one was hurt. Taking the keys to the car become very easy. But--it could have been a disaster!! So, take the keys away at the first sign of trouble. You will have a loved one a lot longer.

Link to American Occupational Therapy Association

Amy Bryant — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:25:38 GMT

Tips and guidance for people with concerns about the safety of their loved ones.

http://www1.aota.org/olderdriver/concerned.html

Personal Story About Grandpa Driving

KristenK — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:16:18 GMT

My Grandpa lived alone, after Grandma died. He was very independent, always had been. We had warning signs that he should not be driving, but it is not easy to take away someone's driver's license, who has been driving all of his life! One day he ended up driving the wrong way on an entrance ramp to the freeway. He was going head on into traffic exiting from a freeway! We were extremely lucky that no one was hurt! This could have been catastrophic! We should not have waited as long as we did to get his driver's license taken away. It is not an easy thing to do, but get help any way you can before someone is seriously injured or killed!

At-Risk drivers in Oregon

Linda Temple — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:46:54 GMT

I know in Oregon, you can anonymously turn in to the Department of Motor Vehicles an unsafe driver based on medical condition or observes driving behaviors. There are also some mandatory reporting requirements for physicians. The driver receives a letter and has the opportunity to re-test to show they can still drive safely, or not. They have to take and pass a vision, knowledge, and drive test. In some cases, a driver may be asked to provide current medical information. I imagine other states have similar programs in place.

How to help Seniors Give Up Their Car Keys

Jessica Welch — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:24:21 GMT

Here is a great article I found online that discusses how to help a loved one give up the keys when there is a safety issue at hand:

There are few things Americans cling to more tightly than their automobiles. In our suburbanized society, the automobile is both the symbol of our individuality and freedom and our connection to the outside world. Without a car, we fear isolation and dependence. But as people age, driving can become increasingly dangerous.

After teenagers, the group most likely to receive a traffic summons for running a red light is seniors. And when seniors are involved in a car accident, they are more likely to be seriously hurt. There are many factors that make it more difficult for even the most alert senior to drive safely. Depth perception and night vision decline with age, while reaction times increase. Some medications may cause drowsiness—and it can take seniors just a little longer to orient themselves when faced with a new traffic pattern. For a caregiver, the most obvious warning sign that it may be time for their loved one to give up their keys is those small dents and scrapes that indicate that their loved one is not totally in control of their vehicle. Other signs include:

· Driving on the wrong side of the road or on the shoulder

· Changing lanes, braking, or accelerating abruptly

· Drifting into other lanes

· Missing highway exits and turns

· Unintentionally antagonizing other motorists

· Increases in traffic tickets or warnings Taken individually, each of these symptoms may not be significant, but when they begin to add up, it’s time for you to take action.

Staying Safe Behind the Wheel If you feel your loved one is driving unsafely, you have many options open to you besides insisting that they give up their keys.

Make a good-faith effort to help your loved one stay on the road. Ask them to take a refresher driving course or enroll in the AARP Driver Safety Program.

Seek out an objective assessment of their driving abilities. A third-party opinion can provide a baseline for decision making and help make the follow-up discussions about driving less a contest of wills. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a good driver assessment questionnaire on its Web site (see below).

Agree to a set of driving restrictions. For instance, you may both decide that your loved drive only on local roads during the middle of the day, carry a cell phone with them for emergencies, and have their vehicle serviced regularly.

Retiring from the Road. If it’s clear that your loved one’s performance on the road poses a risk to themselves and others, it’s time for you to take more decisive action. There’s no getting around it, though: convincing a senior to stop driving can be difficult. You can increase the likelihood that your loved one will give up their keys of their own accord by coming to the conversation ready to help them envision a full life without a car:

· Know the local transportation alternatives. Be able to demonstrate that with a little planning they will be able to use public transportation to pursue their customary round of activities.

· Investigate local home-delivery services. Make a catalog of the local services that can deliver to your loved one’s home, including dry cleaning, take-out food, and groceries.

· Emphasize monetary savings. Insurance, gasoline, maintenance and repair, registration and licensing can add up to several thousand dollars a year, an expense that is hard to justify if your loved one only runs errands in their car a few times a week. Keep an open mind and be flexible. For instance, some seniors may feel less of a sense of loss if they can hang on to their own car and have others use it to provide transportation. If your loved one can retain their dignity, they’re more likely to give up their keys.

Web Resource: AARP offers driver safety education classes in local communities, an online driver safety course, and tests of driver safety. Visit the AARP Driver Safety Program website. Your loved one can get a better sense of whether they should stay on the road by taking the good driver assessment from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Jessica Welch, Eldercare Advisor

1-866-394-8026 jessicaw@aplaceformom.com

Article: Senior Driver Safety

Admin — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:13:41 GMT

Senior Driver Safety

After she pondered the fact that she learned how to drive as a teenager, 72-year-old Marjorie Butler Norrie signed up for the AARP Driver Safety Program refresher course.

“We think that we’re driving like we used to drive, but [I learned] our reactions have slowed down so much, not realizing that we don’t react as well as we used to,” says Butler Norrie, who resides in Wenatchee, Wash.

In the class, Butler Norrie learned about senior driver safety and age-related changes that can affect her driving abilities. Perhaps these shifts are why she had already begun to limit her driving. She rarely travels on big city freeways, and she didn’t drive for a month last winter, saying snowy conditions kept her off the road.

This self-restriction and self-assessment are common and healthy practices for older drivers. Examining your own driving proficiency can keep you safe. After age 75, the risk of being in a collision increases for every mile a person drives, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Statistically, this age group falls just below teenagers for the number of fatal crashes. Although this ominous fact is linked to an older person’s ability to endure injury, older drivers—and their loved ones—need to pay attention to driving skills and make the appropriate adjustments, whether that means adapting their driving habits or hanging up their car keys for good.

This article continues at Senior Driver Safety and Elderly Resources.

Driving and the Elderly

Has aging affected your driving skills?

Holiday Travel Tips for Elderly - Senior Living Medicare Health News

When Dad Should Stop Driving

When Dad Should Stop Driving

Does age difference affect driving performance?

When is it the right time for your parent to stop driving?

cheap dentist

When and how to take away the car keys

When and how to take away the car keys

When driving is not safe any longer

Children who have Caregiver responsibilities

Check out this article highlighting the extent to which families rely on their children for key caregiving responsibilities http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/caregiving/articles/project_supports_children_who_have_caregiver_responsibilities.html#

Check out this article highlighting the extent to which families rely on their children for key caregiving responsibilities

Third party evaluation

Mom wants to drive she has had a stroke and cant talk

How do I keep my elderly parent from driving when legal means won't help?

Too Old to Drive - The Decision

Atlanta, GA - AARP Driver Safety Class: Merrill Gardens at Dunwoody

Possible liability issues for families with unsafe elderly drivers

Transportation Options to remain independent

THE DMV

Where do you turn when there seem to be no options?

Senior Driving Safety

Watching Dad Drive on the Sidewalk

Link to American Occupational Therapy Association

Personal Story About Grandpa Driving

At-Risk drivers in Oregon

How to help Seniors Give Up Their Car Keys

Article: Senior Driver Safety

Check out this article highlighting the extent to which families rely on their children for key caregiving responsibilities

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/caregiving/articles/project_supports_children_who_have_caregiver_responsibilities.html#