Question: My dad will be 83 years old soon and he is still driving, although I am beginning to worry that he is losing his ability to drive safely. Are there some guidelines to use to evaluate whether or not a person his age should still drive? Thanks for any information you can provide.

Answer: One of the sessions I attended at a recent caregiver resource fair was about this important topic. Presented by a representative from AARP-North Carolina, it was well attended and I was surprised at the number of caregivers and family members who expressed concerns about their loved ones’ ability to continue driving safely.

One lady told about following her husband for a short distance and seeing him cross the centerline over twenty times. Other caregivers were apprehensive not only about declining driving skills, but how to address this serious issue without causing emotional distress.

Most older drivers have had access to an automobile since their teen years. A driver’s license represents independence, ability to meet basic needs and social interaction. Research indicates that there are negative consequences for older adults who no longer drive including decline in overall health and a higher rate of depression. With this in mind, it would seem obvious that we allow our loved ones to drive as long as it is safe to do so. SAFE is the key word. When Alzheimer’s or another dementia that diminishes mental capabilities is present, the situation becomes more complex.

The Hartford (Financial Services Group, Inc.) has prepared a detailed presentation on this subject that you can assess at www.thehartford.com. Included is a list of driving behaviors, which if observed, could be red flags. They suggest tracking changes over a period a time to get an accurate picture of driving ability. Note especially a pattern of these warning signs or an increase in frequency.

Some of the minor behaviors include riding the brake; incorrect signaling; hitting curbs; failure to notice traffic signs; trouble navigating turns and driving at inappropriate speeds.

More serious incidents include “near misses”; moving into the wrong lane; confusion at exits; getting lost in familiar places; confusing the gas and brake pedals; stopping in traffic for no apparent reason; and of course, car accidents.

Hopefully, intervention will occur before this last one takes place. This decision can be fraught with emotional turmoil for the receiver and caregiver. Both should consider the potential consequences of continuing to drive – or allowing your loved one to drive – when it is apparent that the ability to do so safely is no longer an option.

If the decision is made to “take away the keys” the caregiver should immediately arrange for alternative means of transportation to avoid changes in lifestyle that will have a negative effect on the receiver’s overall well being. This provision will help alleviate the feeling of loss.

Now a word to those who are not currently caregivers: An ideal project for you to pursue would be to assist in providing transportation for those who are no longer able to drive safely. Whether you do this on your own or recruit a group from your neighborhood or church, this would be a kind and valuable service that would enhance many lives, including your own.

 CARING QUOTE: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” – Charles Dickens