Driving ability can be a sensitive topic for your loved one. Telling your loved one that it is time to stop driving can be one of the most difficult moments in a carer’s life. Just because a person is growing older does not mean they must stop driving, but it is important to assess your loved ones capabilities.
Aging-Parents-and-Elder-Care.com has given some insight on how aging can affect the driving abilities of elderly people.
Driving requires elderly people – or any person for that matter – to have good coordination skills. Changes to the body, both physically and mentally, during the aging process can reduce coordination skills. Potential changes include:
- A slower reaction time
- Deterioration of vision and hearing
- Weakening of muscle strength and flexibility
- Drowsiness brought on by some medications
- Less ability to focus or concentrate
- Reduced tolerance for alcohol
Separately, these changes are not a cause for concern. However, you should monitor and evaluate your loved one’s driving skills so that you know when the time arrives to stop driving.
Watch for warning signs such as driving too fast or too slow, responding slowly to potential hazards like pedestrians, misinterpreting signs or traffic lights, or multiple near accidents. The problem can sometimes be fixed by not driving at night or only driving in familiar locations, but you may need to make a call about whether your loved one is still a safe driver.
Read the full article here.
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