It’s All Relative: When to ask your parents for the keys
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The second installment of our column, ‘It’s All Relative’ tackles one of the toughest issues that the child of an aging parent has to deal with: when, and how, to take away the keys when Mom or Dad is no longer a safe driver.
As columnist Rosemary McLure writes: ‘It’s a question adult children ask themselves with dread. Losing the ability to drive impacts a person’s dignity and independence, especially in California, where transportation options can be limited. But we all can cite an example of older drivers who caused horrific accidents.’
McClure shares her own experience of being with her 81-year- old father after he was in an accident, and asks aging experts and DMV workers for advice on how to begin the conversation.
You can read her full story here. Her list of 10 warning signs is after the jump.
-- Deborah Netburn
Everyone ages at a different rate: Some drivers are shaky in their 60s, others are still alert in their 90s. But vision loss, hearing problems, slower reaction times, use of medications and illness can affect driving ability. Here are 10 questions that may identify problems, some of which can be overcome with changes in driving behavior or physical fitness.
- Are there dents or scrapes on the car, garage door, fence or mailbox?
- Does the driver feel uncomfortable, nervous or fearful while on the road?
- Is the driver unable to stay inside the lane, or is he hitting curbs, missing turns or putting pedestrians at risk?
- Does the driver get lost in familiar areas?
- Is the driver having a hard time paying attention to signals, road signs and pavement markings?
- Has he or she had frequent close calls, been involved in an accident, or received tickets or warnings from law enforcement officials?
- Is the driver’s response time slow when an unexpected situation occurs?
- Does the driver get angry or irritated while on the road, or are other people honking?
- Does the driver daydream or become easily distracted?
- Does the driver have trouble merging with traffic or turning around to check over his shoulder while backing up or changing lanes?
-- Rosemary McClure