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As driving is a source of independence for many older people, it is important to carefully consider when to hang up the keys, an expert said.
"Retirement driving is part of the aging process and needs to be carefully considered and discussed openly," said Dr. Ericka Tung, internist and geriatrician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
"Primary health care providers are particularly well placed to advise patients on driving safety because they understand the health status of their patients, their abilities, their challenges and their goals," Tung said. A press release. She is the principal author of an article in the Mayo Clinic Proceedingsthat review that examines the issue.
There is no test to determine whether an older person should continue driving, but health care providers can look at several aspects of physical and mental functioning to assess their driving ability.
These areas are vision, including depth perception and visual fields; thinking skills, including changes in memory, attention or language; mobility and physical function, including range of motion and coordination of the neck, upper and lower body; health problems that may affect the ability to drive a vehicle safely; and medications that may impair alertness.
Another key factor is the contribution of family members or other caregivers, according to Tung and his colleagues.
These people can provide information about the senior's driving performance, his ability to perform daily basic tasks or his history of falls. All can help determine if the older person needs a refresher course on driver safety or whether to stop driving.
Because driving gives many seniors a sense of independence and control, any decision to hang up the keys to their car must be communicated clearly and compassionately, said the authors.
It is essential that seniors stop driving at the right time, not after an accident.
"An open dialogue is encouraged between patients, families and primary care teams to ensure safety on the road," said Tung.
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