Try: If you find yourself in the position of talking to an older friend or family member about their driving remember the following #be respectful for many seniors driving is important for staying independent many older adults have fond memories of getting a driver’s license at the same time don’t be intimidated or back down if you have a true concern #give specific examples it’s easier to tune out generalizations like "you just can’t drive safely anymore" outline concerns that you have noticed such as "you have a harder time turning your head than you used to" or "you braked suddenly at stop signs three times the last time we drove" #find strength in numbers if more than one family member or close friend has noticed it’s less likely to be taken as nagging a senior may also listen to a more impartial party such as a doctor or driving specialist #help find alternatives the person may be so used to driving that they have never considered alternatives you can offer concrete help such as researching transportation options or offering rides when possible if your family member is reluctant to ask for help it can lead to isolation and depression #understand the difficulty of the transition a senior may experience a profound sense of loss having given up driving don’t dismiss their feelings but try to help with the transition as much as possible if it is safe try slowly transitioning the senior out of driving to give them time to adjust for example he may begin the transition by no longer driving at night or on the freeways or by using a shuttle service to specific appointments such as the doctor’s information references "senior driving safety tips warning signs and knowing when to stop" by joanna saisan monika white and lawrence robinson 2011 available at
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Categories: Sage, Topic, Cognitive Intellectual, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Vision, So-So Vision, Poor Vision, Hearing, So-So Hearing, Poor Hearing
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Keywords: Driving not driving discussing driving talking about not driving transportation car
*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed