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 He was convinced he was a perfectly good driver, and he took it
like he was being attacked,” she said. “My father didn’t understand
why we told him he couldn’t drive anymore.”
The car conversation often careens older drivers and families into
conflict, aging experts say. Frequently, this discussion is dodged
altogether- or addressed too late.
A recent telephone survey, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care and
conducted by a private public opinion research firm, polled 600 U.S.
and Canadian residents 70 and older about driving.
Ninety five percent said they have not had a conversation about
driving initiated by family or friends. Three quarters indicated
that stopping driving would equate to the loss of independence.
Almost 90 percent said they are dependent on their car. More than a
quarter said if they could not drive, they would suffer depression.
“With someone like my father, a man very used to providing for his
family and being strong, efficient and capable, it would always be
hard,” Kennedy said. Her sister helps their father with errands, and
a hired caregiver comes once a week to take him where he wants to
go. While his level of acceptance is increasing, he was angry for
months.
“A license is not given with a lifetime contract,” said Elin Schold
Davis, coordinator of the Older Driver Initiative Project for the
American Occupational Therapy Association, which collaborated with
Home Instead to design the survey. She says many senior drivers
worry about their abilities - and keep worries to themselves.
The project’s community education program, “Let’s Talk About
Driving,” helps families discuss how to limit or stop driving. The
online resource includes a tool to assess driving capabilities
(http://bit.ly/1rWQRuh).
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, signs
that older drivers may be unsafe include: heightened agitation,
difficulty remaining in a lane, pedal confusion, stopping at green
lights, getting lost in familiar locations, and delayed reaction
time.
However, the appearance of one or two signs does not always
necessitate stopping driving. The installation of a padded or
smaller steering wheel, for example, could make maneuvering more
manageable for a driver with arthritis. A seat lift can ameliorate
the toll of aging on the spine, allowing a senior struggling to see
over the dashboard to handle a car confidently. Blind spot
indicators, backup cameras and GPS may lend a sense of situational
awareness and comfort in navigating less familiar areas.
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June McKoy, an associate professor in geriatrics at Northwestern
University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, urges families to address
the issue with respect and empathy.
“Patients are often losing everything,” McKoy said. “They are losing
their hearing a little bit, their vision a little bit, their husband
might be dead, their friends are dying, but they still have their
car.”
Research into alternate options is a must for families before
broaching concerns, McKoy advises.
“We cannot pull this great freedom without having a plan,” she said.
That plan should include offers to help get around; other options
may include para-transit services and reduced fare programs. If a
senior has friends who drive, carpooling is a practical and social
option.
“Families must put on the table what they’re willing to do and not
do,” McKoy said. Cabs are more affordable if a senior sells their
car and no longer pays for insurance and gas. McKoy sometimes
suggests giving the car to a teenage grandchild, for example, on the
condition that the teen drives them on errands once a week.
“Ideally, if we have these conversations early, seniors are
empowered in the planning,” Schold Davis said. “The more families
have conversations about driving earlier, the more it allows for the
exploration of options and the comfort level with talking about some
of the changes.”
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2a1aJ6m Let’s Talk About Driving: North
American Research Report 2016.
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