Sandra Z. visits her 82-year-old father, Jack, every Saturday afternoon.This past Saturday, Sandra noticed that:
- Jack’s car had a new dent
- the frame of his garage door had scrape marks
Sandra isn’t sure what to do. She worries that, if he is becoming an unsafe driver, Jack may cause an accident that injures himself or someone else. She also knows that Jack is living an active, independent life and that retiring from driving too soon might bring a difficult change in lifestyle. Although the majority of older adults are safe drivers, some older adults experience changes in:
- vision
- physical functioning
- thinking ability
All of these changes may affect one's capacity to drive safely. Each individual experiencing a health challenge is different in terms of the type of health concern and the rate at which it is progressing. For this reason, it can be difficult for family members to figure out exactly when a loved one reaches the point where driving is becoming unsafe. Family members may also know that driving means more to older adults than just a way to get from here to there.
- Driving is a way to stay independent and to remain connected to the community.1-11
- The ability to drive gives older adults control over decisions about when to make appointments, go shopping, or participate in volunteer activities.1,3
- Some older adults also see driving as a sign of competence and feel that giving up driving is a sign of “going downhill.”1,2,4,9,11
Finding the right time for driving retirement often requires expert advice from:
- eye doctors
- physicians
- driving rehabilitation specialists
These professionals can provide an older loved one with information about his or her specific medical conditions and about whether these conditions can improve. If family members have permission from the older loved one, they can speak with the doctor or accompany the older person to an appointment to learn about how specific medical conditions can affect driving abilities.
NEXT: Family Conversations About Retiring from Driving
References
1. Rudman, D.L., Friedland, J., Chipman, M., & Scortino, P. (2006). Holding on and letting go: The perspectives of pre-seniors and seniors on driving self-regulation in later life. Canadian Journal on Aging, 25(1), 65-76.
2. Alder, G. & Rottunda, J. (2006). Older adults’ perspectives on driving cessation. Journal of Aging Studies, 20(3), 227-235.
3. Bryanton, O. (2009). Driving cessation: Older women’s experiences. (Master’s thesis, University of Prince Edward Island).
4. Shope, J.T. (2003). What does giving up driving mean to older adults, and why is it so difficult? Generations, 27(2), 57-59.
5. Persson, D. (1993). The elderly driver: Deciding when to stop. The Gerontologist, 33(1), 88-91.
6. King, M.D., Meuser, T.M., Berg-Weger, M., Chibnall, J.T., Harmon, A.C., & Yakimo, R. (2010). Decoding the Miss Daisy syndrome: An examination of subjective responses to mobility change. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 54(1), 29-52.
7. Kerschner, H. & Aizenberg, R. (2004, November). Focus group participants reflect on transportation. Paper presented at the Transportation in an Aging Society: A Decade of Experience Conference, Washington, D.C.
8. Horowitz, A., Boerner, K. & Reinhardt, J.P. (2002). Psychosocial aspects of driving transitions in elders with low vision. Gerontechnology, 1(4), 262-273.
9. Davidson, K. (2008). Declining health and competence: Men facing choices about driving cessation. Generations, 32(1), 44-47.
10. Kostyniuk, L.P., Connell, C.M., & Robling, D.K. (2009). Driving Reduction and cessation: Transitioning to not driving. (Report No. M-CASTL 2009-02). Ann Arbor, MI: Michigan Center for Advancing Safe Transportation Throughout the Lifespan.
11. Johnson, J.E. (1998). Older rural adults and the decision to stop driving: The influence of family and friends. Journal of Community Health Nursing,15(4), 205-216.
12. Windsor, T.D., Antsey, K.J., Butterworth, P., Luszcz, M.A. & Andrews, G.R. (2007). The role of perceived control in explaining depressive symptoms associated with driving cessation in a longitudinal study. The Gerontologist, 47(2), 215-223.
13. Sterns, H.L., Sterns, R., Aizenberg, R. & Anapole, J. (2001). Family and friends concerned about an older driver. (Report No. DOT HS 809 307). Akron, OH: Creative Action, Inc.
14. Coughlin, J.F., Mohyde, M., D’Ambrosio, L.A., & Gilbert, J. (2004). Who drives older drivers’ decisions? (Report from the MIT AgeLab and Hartford Financial Services Group).
Author: Jill Frost-Steward, Kansas State University
