PrintIn the aftermath of several tragic accidents, and the ensuing debate about steps the state should take to address senior driving safety, what has not been discussed are the rights and needs of senior drivers.
Giving up the keys to their car is almost like losing the ability to walk. Senior drivers not only face the discontinuation of a major part of their lives. They also face the loss of flexibility, control, independence and the ability to socialize.
In general, seniors are careful and law-abiding drivers, but when tragedy strikes, it is understandably high profile and devastating for everyone. Instead of being branded Public Enemy No. 1, what senior drivers need are more facts, resources and support to help them make the decision when the time comes to stop driving.
Instead of rules based solely on age, we need objective, observable, fact-based measures of driving ability and indications of problems. We also need tips and tools on safe senior driving and clear guidelines on how to assess their fitness to drive.
Otherwise families are left on their own to try to work through what can be very difficult, polarizing and, ultimately, unsuccessful conversations based purely on emotion versus the facts.
According to a 2008 survey conducted by Caring.com and the National Safety Council, 40 percent of baby boomer respondents reported feeling uncomfortable talking to their parents about driving, and were actually more comfortable talking to them about selling their homes or even making funeral plans than about driving issues.
Given this apprehension about discussing the topic, and left with limited information on when and why to hang up the keys, conversations can also happen too late and without a "Plan B" in place for alternative transportation.
Having this "Plan B" - be it knowing they can get a ride through a local senior service, from a friend or relative, or with a cab occasionally - can help demystify what life will be like after they're no longer driving, and may reduce some of the emotional and psychological resistance.
Help for seniors and their families on safe driving can come from many places including senior centers, doctors, professional caregivers, case workers and assisted living staffs. There are also Web sites and online assessment tools to help including ones like AAASeniors.com, the MIT Age Lab and the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center . Independent driving test organizations and schools are also in place to provide a more objective view and can be found on the web.
Seniors and their families can and should use this "village" of people and services available to them to work through this charged issue, and the process should start with the very first feeling that driving safety is becoming a concern for you or someone you love.
On the flip side, those in the business of senior care, services and health need to take an even stronger role in bringing this important conversation and information to the fore.
Regardless of what happens from a legislative standpoint, local families and experts need to work together now to share the facts and provide the support needed to make lasting and smart driving decisions with knowledge and dignity for the safety of everyone we love on the road, whether they be 8, 18 or 80.
