One of the toughest issues caregivers face with older parents is the dilemma around seniors and driving.  We’ve all seen the news with tragic tales of older drivers who accelerate when they are supposed to brake or drive the wrong way on the highway – putting everyone at risk sometimes with fatal results for others and themselves.  The dilemma is how do you know if mom or dad should not drive anymore?  How do you have the conversation around driving retirement?  How do you take away the keys without taking away complete independence and mobility for your older parent?  Adapted from my book, A Cast of Caregivers, here are the three gears caregivers need to know and how to shift through them when it comes to senior driving safety and mobility:

 

 

1. Driver Assessment

2. Driving Retirement

3. Alternative Transportation

 

Route 66

Today, 10 percent of all drivers are over age 70 – and by 2030 one in every five drivers will be over age 65. Among these older drivers; between 23-40 percent will have macular degeneration creating vision-related problems for driver safety according to the Macular Degeneration Partnership. The Automobile Club of America states men over age 70 outlive their safe driving ability by six years and for women it is 11 years. But those are just numbers. When it comes to driving, skills and judgment are more important than age.

Following are several warning signs that are the most common cause for concern about your parent’s driving ability. You want to look for patterns not just one incident. Keep in mind some of these issues are minor, others more serious.

1. They have become fearful, nervous or anxious about driving.

2. There are ongoing scrapes and dents to their car – and they confess they hit the mailbox or curb – again and again and again.

3. They have difficulty staying in lanes.

4. They have trouble following road signs or street markings.

5. They have a slower response time to basic driving skills like braking or accelerating.

If you’ve noticed the signs as well as taken a ride with your loved one, and felt like you were on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disneyland, it’s time to do two things: look into adjusting things in your loved one’s car for better vision and mobility, and think about a driving assessment to determine your loved one’s real driving performance.

The Adjustment Bureau

Sometimes a quick adjustment to seats or steering wheels can make a big difference. Remember, we shrink in size as we age. In fact, the Harvard Health Letter says after age 40 we lose ½ inch every decade – ultimately decreasing in size by about three inches in our golden years. In addition, arthritis or osteoporosis may make our driver’s seat position, our flexibility and our reaction time different from 10-20 years ago. The MIT AgeLab recently conducted tests and found between the ages of 30 and 70 we lose 20-30 percent in our range of motion and develop poor neck rotation that can double the risk of an accident.

One test comes from AARP, American Society on Aging, Auto Club of America and the American Occupational Therapy Association who collaborated on a 15-minute, 12-point assessment for senior drivers at car dealerships, senior centers and other locations called CarFit to ensure drivers have the right car settings for their safe driving needs. Three out of 10 senior drivers who have taken the test had at least one problem – such as space between the steering wheel and chest or line of sight over the steering wheel – needing adjustment.

You can also work with an occupational therapist to assess your loved one’s driving. These experts are called driver rehabilitation specialists. In the same way you would seek rehabilitation therapy for your loved one after an accident or surgery, these specialists assess your loved one’s driving skills and prescribe a rehabilitation program or alternative transportation options. Your loved one’s physician can refer you or the American Occupational Therapy Association will have these experts listed in your local area. Your loved one can also take an online driving assessment test from the Automobile Club of America called Roadwise Review or from AARP called the Driver Safety Program. There is also a wealth of information for caregivers on a site created by a former Ohio State Highway patrolman,Keeping Us Safe. It includes a senior driver self-assessment, a workbook for caregivers and their older driver, a binding contract if families decide to have an older loved one commit to not driving when the time comes and more.

In addition to driver assessment courses, there are also ways to hone driver skills from the safety of your loved one’s living room chair – all he needs is a computer. Posit Science® has a software product, Drivesharp, which is a suite of brain fitness exercises recommended by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Numerous studies show that drivers who train for just 8-10 hours, process visual information faster, see more of the roadway, and react faster in situations where split seconds matter. In fact, reaction time improves by the equivalent of 22 additional feet in stopping distance at 55 mph. It has been embraced by several national auto insurers because it actually cuts crash risk in half for older drivers. It is not a driver education or assessment, but rather a brain fitness software program that sharpens the brain. Studies show the benefits extend beyond driving to improvements in standard measures of quality of life, including functional independence, confidence, mood and overall health.

Before asking for your parent’s car keys – consider Step 1 these driver assessments.

Click here to read Gear 2 – Driving Retirement and How to Have the Conversation.

Click here to read Gear 3 – Alternative Transportation Plans.