Elders is it time to take the keys? signs to look for and having the talk Each day in the United States approximately 10,000 people turn 65. That doesn’t necessarily pose a problem as people under age 75 have relatively low crash involvement. However, after age 75, accidents occur much more frequently because older drivers may have health conditions or take medications that negatively affect their driving abilities and this can put them and others at risk. Older drivers may not recognize, or may not be willing to admit that they have impaired ability. So what should you do if you think a loved one should no longer be behind the wheel? How do you know if it is time to take the keys away? This is obviously a difficult and uncomfortable conversation to have with an aging parent. Giving up the car takes a level of independence and freedom away from your loved one and may cause feelings of resentment, anger, sadness or depression, however, older drivers and their loved ones need to take a realistic, ongoing inventory of driving skills and openly discuss them. Be prepared for the conversation with observations and questions, listen with an open mind, and be prepared to offer possible transportation alternatives. If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you might need to talk about driving with your aging loved one: • Does he or she get lost on routes that should be familiar? • Have you noticed new dents, scratches, or other damage to his or her vehicle? • Has he or she been warned by a police officer, about poor driving performance, or received a ticket for a driving violation? • Has he or she experienced a near miss or crash recently? • Has his or her doctor advised him or her to limit or stop driving due to a health reason? • Is he or she overwhelmed by signs, signals, road markings, and everything else he or she needs to focus on when driving? • Does he or she take any medication that might affect his or her capacity to drive safely? • Does he or she stop inappropriately and/or drive too slowly, preventing the safe flow of traffic? 48 WomanToWomanMagazine.com
30206FR
To see the actual publication please follow the link above