When it’s Time for a Parent or Grandparent to Stop Driving: A Guide
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the number of older drivers is on the rise. According to data compiled by the American Automobile Association, nearly 50 million people aged 65 and older held driver’s licenses in 2021, a 38% increase from 2012. This increase in older drivers has also led to a rise in motor vehicle deaths and injuries among seniors. In 2021, there were 7,489 motor vehicle deaths for people aged 65 and older, a 34% increase from previous years, and over 266,000 seniors were injured in vehicle crashes.
Determining when it’s time for a parent or grandparent to stop driving can be a difficult conversation. Some seniors may willingly hand over their keys when confronted about their declining driving skills, while others may be in denial about their decline and insist that they are doing fine. However, there are often clear signs that indicate it’s time for a senior to stop driving. These signs include running stop signs, getting lost on familiar roads, mixing up the gas and brake pedals, and having frequent accidents or close calls.
Losing the ability to drive can be a significant loss of independence for seniors. However, there are alternatives available to ensure that they can still go places and maintain their freedom. Family members can explore senior shuttles or other forms of transportation in their community and help their loved ones try out these options. If someone in the family is available to drive them places on demand, that can also be a great solution. Additionally, seniors can benefit from taking refresher driver’s education courses offered by organizations like AAA or AARP to brush up on their skills and potentially qualify for an insurance discount.
Vision impairment is one of the main factors that can lead to older Americans losing their license. However, for the most part, older drivers are generally safe and cautious on the road. They wear their seatbelts, avoid speeding, and adapt to their changing skillset by avoiding high-speed highways and not driving at night. Despite this, it’s still a good idea for seniors to undergo an old age driving assessment to ensure that they are still capable of driving safely.
If you suspect that a loved one should no longer be driving but they are unwilling to give up their keys, there are several approaches you can take. Calling a family meeting or holding an intervention can be helpful as it puts up a unified front and takes the pressure off of an individual family member. Reassuring them that they will still be able to go places by exploring alternative transportation options can also ease the transition. It can be beneficial to have a senior’s doctor weigh in on the matter as well, as seniors tend to trust their doctors. In some cases, it may be necessary to turn the senior into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for testing, although this approach may not be anonymous, and the senior may figure out who reported them.
For seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, preventing them from driving can be more challenging. Many states have created Silver Alerts to inform the public when someone with dementia has gone missing in their car. In these cases, it may be necessary to employ strategies like hiding the car, disabling it, or telling a white lie to dissuade them from driving. While lying to a loved one may be uncomfortable, it can be done with good intentions to ensure their safety.
It’s also essential to plan for changing transportation needs in advance. Just as seniors prepare medical advance directives, they can also prepare an advance directive for driving. This document can designate specific people who will inform the senior when it’s time to stop driving and assure them that they will provide transportation when needed. Although these directives are not legally binding, they can make the conversation with the senior easier when the time comes.
In conclusion, determining when it’s time for a parent or grandparent to stop driving can be a challenging task. However, by recognizing the signs of declining driving skills and exploring alternative transportation options, family members can ensure their loved ones’ safety while still maintaining their independence. It’s crucial to approach the conversation with empathy and understanding, as losing the ability to drive can be a significant loss for seniors. By planning ahead and having open and honest discussions, both seniors and their families can navigate this transition with grace and ensure the safety of everyone on the road.