Driving with Mr. or Mrs. Senior
Written by Suzanne Sartin

I am writing this article as I sit in the Intensive Care unit of a major downtown trauma hospital. Three days ago, whilst driving, my 82-year-old father found himself face to face with not one but two gravel trucks. Needless to say, he did not come off the winner in that encounter.

We all want to keep driving as long as possible. Driving represents and maintains our independence. However, as we and those we love age we must learn to ask the hard question: “When does my own or my beloveds’ driving put others at risk?” In 1995 senior citizens accounted for 13% of all traffic fatalities, 18% of all pedestrian fatalities and 5% of all people injured in traffic crashes. In addition a recent study showed that drivers over the age of 85 are nearly 4 X as likely to die in a car accident as their middle-aged counterparts.

Aging tends to bring with it a decline in our physical prowess and abilities. There is often reduced vision (especially at night), slower reaction time, more time needed to understand what we see and hear, and increased difficulty in focusing attention for long periods of time.

Hindsight, as they say is 20-20. I would love to say that there were no warning signals of my senior parents’ impending collision, however, in retrospect, many of them were there. Hopefully, the following list will be able to help you or someone you know and love:

Warning Signs

• Incorrect signaling

• Trouble navigating turns

• More frequent “close calls”

• Difficulty staying in the lane of travel

• Confusion at exits

• Driving at inappropriate speeds

• Trouble judging gaps in traffic at intersections

• Getting lost more often

• Delayed responses to unexpected situations

• Other drivers honking at you more often

• Friends and/or relatives not wanting to drive with you

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About The Author:

Compassionate Care recognizes the need for quality supportive services for the seniors and families of today. In this time when we have lost the extended family we are here to help fill that niche. Compassionate Care hires only caring, trustworthy individuals who come to us with Police Clearance and references. Compassionate Care provides assistance by providing the following In-Home services: grocery shopping, errands, cooking, cleaning, Light Housekeeping, drop in companionship, caregiver relief, Nursing Home visits, and more.