CarePartners - Care Connections Winter 2007

Is It Time To Hang Up The Car Keys?

Older Americans have fewer accidents per licensed driver than younger ones, but when drivers pass 70 years old, the accident rate rises substantially. By 2029, 25% of drivers will be over age 65, up from just 14% in 2003.*

If you (or someone you know) are beginning to show signs of slowing down as you age, it might be the right decision to put away the car keys for good. As the body and mind age, flexibility decreases as muscles weaken and joints tighten. Eyesight typically deteriorates and the brain's ability to quickly process information declines. Being aware of your driving skills is necessary to stay safe on the road; you may want to talk with loved ones and a medical professional to determine if you are physically capable of driving.

Physical Road Blocks
When you evaluate your physical health, consider how it applies to different driving situations. Driving at night, in heavy traffic or in a heavily populated residential area all require various skills. Moreover, certain physical conditions may hinder your ability to react quickly on the road. These may include eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration. But they can also include Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, diabetes and Parkinson's disease.**

Getting older may not mean you have to hang up your car keys forever. A phased approach may be a helpful way to slide out of the driver's seat. Try taking side streets and frontage roads instead of major freeways. Avoid merging situations and heavy traffic, which require quick reflexes.

Not The End Of The Road Just Yet
You can take steps now to ensure that you are in shape to drive. Have your vision tested regularly, understand the side effects from your medications, stay physically fit and abstain from alcohol if you know you'll be driving. You also may want to take a refresher course on driving through CarePartners Driver's Evaluation program (see box on below to learn more). If you do hit the road, you may want to consider carefully planning your route ahead of time and informing a family member or a close friend where you are going.

Think of this time as an opportunity to walk often, get more exercise and to keep track of your physical fitness. Speak with your doctor or another medical professional about assessing your health and ability to stay safe behind the wheel.

*	Source: "To Drive or Not to Drive," The Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2005.
**	Source: Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com.

Driver's Evaluation Can Help

Driver's evaluation is a comprehensive analysis performed by an occupational therapist. It is used to ensure a person's safe return to driving following an illness or injury, or to assess the ability of an individual with a disability to learn to drive for the first time. The first part of the evaluation is held in the CarePartners Outpatient Center. The actual driving is done in a car owned by CarePartners that is fully equipped for individuals with physical impairments.

To Make an Appointment
First, you need to get a written prescription from your doctor. You will also need a current license or a learner's permit for the actual road evaluation. Then you simply call the CarePartners Outpatient Center at (828) 274-6179 and ask to schedule a driver's evaluation. The evaluation includes a driving history, vision screening and reaction time and cognitive testing, if needed. The next step is actual behind-the-wheel testing in parking lots, residential areas, in traffic and on highways. Following the evaluation, you and your physician will be provided with a summary of the results, which will include overall recommendations and advice on any adaptive equipment needs.

Be Alert To Red Flags

"There are specific concerns affecting older drivers regarding vision, reflexes/reaction time and cognition. A deficit in any of these areas can lead to safety issues with driving and functional independence," says Ed Herbster, Occupational Therapist and Driver's Evaluation Coordinator at CarePartners. "Family members should be aware of a few red flags that indicate it may be time for their loved one to stop driving. These warning signs include: 1) dents, dings or scratches on the car, 2) knowing of family members who refuse to ride with the suspect driver and 3) the driver getting lost. I knew one man who got lost 75 miles away in another state while trying to find a grocery store that was one mile from his home. Family members really do have a lot of say in these matters, and they need to be active participants in the process."