One of the hardest things a senior must come to grips with is that he or she can no longer operate an automobile safely. However, this is not usually something they’ll admit to themselves, even if they know it’s the truth. Most of the time it is up to their adult children to determine when it’s time to take away their elderly parent’s car keys and make alternative transportation arrangements for them. Here are some of the warning signs you should look out for if you’re worried about your elderly parent continuing to get behind the wheel:
Overall Health
Unfortunately, as people age, their health declines, and this can have a
profound impact on a senior’s ability to drive. If your parent has been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or another form of dementia, then it’s
time for them to stop getting behind the wheel. General physical frailty can
also be dangerous for seniors operating automobiles since they may not be able
to do things like firmly grip the steering wheel or check blind spots.
Different Medications
Make sure you stay on top of the medications your elderly parent is taking
since they could have a profound negative effect on their ability to drive. Any
medication that causes drowsiness or confusion should be closely monitored, and
you should check with your parents’ doctor to find out if there are any side
effects from taking a combination of medications. This is also especially
important if your parent drinks any amount of alcohol since drinking does not
often mix well with certain medications.
Loss of Hearing or
Sight and Slowed Reflexes
Your parent’s senses and reflexes are essential to good driving, and if
they’re impaired in any way, it could lead to a tragedy on the road. A loss of
vision can lead to confusion and accidents with other cars and pedestrians,
while a loss of hearing can affect your parent’s ability to hear horns and
sirens. Slowed reflexes will make it much more likely that your parent can’t
hit the brakes in time or avoid dangerous situations that can lead to an
accident.
Once you’ve made the decision to take the car keys from your parent, you need to have a plan in place to make sure they can get around and get their errands taken care of. This means you might have to assign family members to take your parent grocery shopping, to doctor appointments, and to pick up prescriptions. If this isn’t a possibility, you should contact a senior transportation service to make sure your parent is not stranded with no way to get out. If you’d like more advice on helping with issues concerning your elderly parent(s), please contact our estate and elder law firm with locations in Beverly, MA and Woburn, MA at (978) 825-0033 to set up a consultation. You can always visit our website at www.BLGPC.com. We’d be happy to guide you through the decisions you may need to start making during this time.