A Place for Mom's Family

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.   

A third party assessment can be vital part of the process in getting a senior into a community.  If your loved one is suffering any type of memory loss or mental disease such as depression, anxiety, ect. it's important to have a specialist evaluate and stabilize that person prior to moving.  The could decrease your care rates in the homes once they are stable & potentially ease the transition for the resident. 

 We have several Geriatric Psychiatric Hospitals in the Atlanta area that offer in patient programs.  The costs are usually covered by Medicare.

Certainly it is a plus to have such a resource - and by all means, use it.

But I think the best comment about determining whether Mom should continue to drive came from one of my Community Relations Directors. Now, this lady has seen the elephant; she has vast experience, states her truth plainly ... and is a delight to be with, to boot.

She says, "YOU have to be the objective evaluator. You have to take yourself - and your family member - out of the picture. You have to look dispassionately and determine: 'Is it safe for this individual to drive? Would you want to be driving on the same street as this individual?' And then you have to have the fortitude - perhaps spiced by savvy, perhaps not - to implement that decision.

This logic applies to so much in this emotionally charged arena of caring for a parent. Easy? No. Simple. Not easy.

By all means, use all the resources at your disposal: Third party evaluators, State License Bureaus, friends, clergy ...  But, in the end, it's you.

You know. So take the necessary steps, whichever way you determine. And save both you and them the worry ... and possibly the guilt over something that could have been avoided. Take the steps to keep them - and others - safe. 

Great information regarding third party evaluation...Thanks for sharing with us!

If you don't have time for your parents please don't worry, we are here to help you. But we advice you that please try to take care yourself of your Parents. It is best. If you don't have much time we will help but your daily 1-2 hours are very important for your mom.. I hope you are understanding what i am trying to say.. Please don't leave alone your parents. Care them how they care you in your childhood...

I agree 100% with what Lynn says. I make sure to get in the car with my mom every 6 mos. or so and I ask a lot of the same questions: How would I feel if I were the car in front, in back of her or even walking or crossing the street up ahead. I might come from a different view point in that I am really skeptical about 80+ year olds driving (or anyone who is unsafe behind the wheel) so I would not think twice to snatch my mom's keys if I thought her health or anyone elses was in jeopardy. Bottom line, you've got to keep a close watch on what's going on behind the wheel with your loved ones.

I guess this is the best way to give seniors a chance to retain even just a little of their independence. It's natural that family members would trash the idea right away in letting their loved ones go behind the wheel once again but if a certified driving instructor gives a go signal that they can drive, then I think it's right to give this to them. But if you can be there with them while they are driving, much better. If they are still capable of driving from their assisted living facilities to hospital for their doctor's appointment let them do so. This can also be beneficial on your part.