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Driving and Freedom
July 2, 2008 |
In recent years Steve Emerson found himself in a delicate situation. The retired
police officer turned driving instructor realized that it was no longer safe for
some of his aging loved ones to get behind the wheel.
“Most of us with parents who are becoming older and older or have developed
different illnesses like dementia. Unfortunately I think that’s happening more
and more to all of us.”
Dr. Michael Raab is a geriatrician with Lee Memorial Hospital’s Older Adult
Services. He says, “You tend to think of most skills as being time related so
you get better as you get older. Unfortunately some of the physical and medical
illnesses and the medications that you have start to catch up with you.”
Research shows most people tend to give up walking before they even consider
giving up driving. Dr. Raab says, “People have the ability to fight for their
independence and their freedom and it’s an issue when that is in conflict with
their safety.” He says you should look at three main factors when you decide
whether or not it’s safe for your loved one to continue driving. Those things
include physical ability, cognitive health and visual ability. If one or more of
those things is a concern you should try to prevent them from getting behind the
wheel. “You may have to tell them that the car’s in the shop; you may have to
move the car to a different place, you may have to physically disable the car.”
There are several transportation programs for seniors in our area. They are
staffed with volunteers who are able to drive your aging loved ones wherever
they may need to go. For most drivers the risk of being killed in a car accident
increases drastically once they reach the age of 75. |
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