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We’ve all been there.  Driving down the street, and you spot an older driver behind the wheel of a car. “That person should not be driving,” we think to ourselves.

Is it a stereotype? Well, perhaps.  But there’s an element of truth to such thoughts, too: At some point, many older drivers need to be taken off the road. As humans age, our joints get stiff, making it harder to turn the arm and neck.  Reflexes get slower, an obvious danger for an activity that requires split-second thinking and movement.

But how do we identify those drivers who need to be, well, un-licensed to drive?

A study by the University of Florida found that occupational therapists can play a key role in identifying older drivers who are at risk for automobile crashes. 

“Through appropriate screening and driving evaluation and rehabilitation, we can help identify unsafe drivers, making recommendations to those who need to stop driving, provide intervention strategies for those with remedial potential and assist others to optimize their driving skills that may be impacted by age-related conditions,” said Elin Schold Davis, coordinator of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Older Driver Initiative, told HealthDay News. 

The research project analyzed crashes involving 5,345 drivers aged 65 and older. The mean age of older drivers in crashes was about 76.  Lane maintenance, yielding, and keeping an appropriate distance from other vehicles were listed as the cause of roughly half of all crashes.  Speed and stimuli errors were another major factor.

Therapists can, of course, identify the time of life when an elderly person should stop driving, but as with anything senior-related, Home Instead believes the best conversations begin with family members in the comfort of one’s own home. 

We follow the 40/70 rule: When you’re 40, or your parents are 70, it is time to start discussing plans for their old age and how they will be cared for.  This can be the best time to broach the topic of senior driving, which we have found to one of the touchier topics to face.

For those who are taken off the road, Home Instead CAREGivers offer transportation for running errands or simply to places like the park, a grandchild’s home, or to lunch with a friend.

And for those drivers who aren’t quite ready to give up the wheel, organizations such as AAA offer lessons on safe driving skills for older adults.  Connect with one of these groups for your loved ones if road worries are a concern for you.

You can find more information on the 40/70 rule by clicking on this link:  40-70 Rule – programs and emotional support services are offered to develop open discussions between families relating to providing care to parents and other various senior topics.

And for more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Sonoma County and companionship care, simply call our office at 707.586.1516 anytime.