Safe to drive at 16 . . . or 76?
Remember the thrill when you got your first set of car keys? For many the sense of freedom and independence is at its highest when one slips behind the wheel of “their car” for the first time and speeds out of sight from mom and dad.
Fast forward 60 or so years. One of the most difficult conversations you may ever have with your parent is whether it‘s time for them to stop driving. Taking away the car keys entails taking away your parent’s independence. Losing their ability to drive to the grocery store, pharmacy or church can be an enormous blow to their self-esteem. That high you may have felt at 16 may matched by your parent’s incredible low as they realize they may never drive again.
Before approaching your parent about their ability to safely drive, you should develop a game plan for that critical conversation. First, evaluate their abilities by riding along with them a few times. Keep the following in mind as you assess their abilities:
- As one ages, their vision may be impacted by medical conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Clearly, conditions such as these may impair their ability to clearly see street signs and road hazards. Are they current with their annual eye exam? If not, schedule an exam and make sure they get new glasses, if needed.
- Secondly, our physical reaction time often decreases as we age, leading to a higher risk of an accident. Seniors who are physically active and maintain their strength and agility are better able to continue to safely drive longer than those who lead sedentary lives.
- Alzheimer’s and dementia patients can easily get disoriented or lost. Their ability to drive safely may not be as much a concern as their ability to return home after his or her afternoon drive.
- Finally, side effects of prescription medications should also be taken into account when assessing one’s ability to drive safely. Many drugs may cause drowsiness or a delayed reaction time. Review your parent’s prescriptions and talk with their doctor if you believe there may be a risk of an impaired ability to drive.
Once you have gathered some facts and formed an opinion, talk candidly and non-judgmentally with your parent about your concern for their safety as well as the safety of others. If you plan to suggest cutting back on their time behind the wheel, investigate other available transportation alternatives prior to your conversation. Approach your parent in a positive manner and stress safety above all else.
If your parent no longer drives, one of Elder Care’s caregivers can transport them to doctor and dental appointments and other errands. Call us today at 816-333-3322 to learn more and to schedule a risk-free Assessment and Safety Evaluation. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day.
Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.
Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.
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