How would you react if you were sitting in the back seat, one of your parents was driving, and they became slightly confused when it came time to take an exit? Or if they brushed a curb while driving down the road?
Most people wouldn’t consider either situation alarming, but what if your loved one got lost on the way to the grocery store or some other place they had been to dozens of times before?
As the baby boomers age, taking away the keys is a decision more and more of their children and spouses are going to have to make. Safe driving is no longer possible once a person’s vision, hearing and/or reaction time have become impaired by old age; or once diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia have robbed them of such cognitive abilities as memory, judgment and understanding.
Warning Signs of Unsafe Driving
* Abrupt lane changes, braking or acceleration
* Reacts slowly to changes in driving environment
* Has close calls or more fender benders than usual
* Fails to use turn signal or keeps signal on without changing lanes
* Drifts into other lanes
* Drives on the wrong side of the road or in the shoulder
* Appears fearful or scared of driving or excessively tired after driving
* Has trouble reading signs or navigating directions; gets lost more than usual
* Notices the irritation and honking of other drivers but doesn’t seem to
understand, or seems oblivious to the frustration of other drivers
* Fails to pay attention to signs, signals or pedestrians
* Misses exits or backs up after missing exit
* Experiences physical difficulty or range of motion issues (looking over the
shoulder, moving hands or feet, etc.)
A lot of people are reluctant to take away the keys because they fear their loved one will see it as a loss of their freedom and dignity. The family needs to find ways to make sure that is not the case. For example, they can arrange alternative transportation like Dial-A-Ride or consider hiring a caregiver to help with errands and shopping.
For more information, please call Visiting Angels at 661-263-2273.