Checklist for Aging Drivers
The Sierra Mountain Times has a useful checklist on evaluating the driving ability of your aging parents. If you’re worried about whether your parent is still safe in the car, this list will help you be more objective.I’m pleased that my mom still seems to be a good driver. She got a new-to-her car a couple months ago. It’s so much nicer than the one she had, which had all of us concerned for her safety. When dad was sick, she just couldn’t manage to think about buying a car, even with help. A couple months ago, my brother came over before lunch, brought her a car to test drive, and completed the deal after lunch. It’s a great car and I feel so much better knowing she won’t have mechanical problems. And it’s fun to drive it too! We’re praying that she can continue driving for at least another couple of years.
Labels: aging parents, driving
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Assessing Driving Skills of Aging Parents
My mom is still able to drive and that’s a mixed blessing. It allows her the freedom to live on her own in a town where she now has no family. She can even drive at night, which is also a mixed blessing. The mixed part is that she still feels pretty invincible. Since Dad’s death a few weeks ago, she keeps threatening to drive back to Kansas to visit her few remaining childhood friends. A reasonable desire, to be sure. But do I want my 86-year-old mother driving alone halfway across the country? No way!Frankly, I dread the day when I’m no longer comfortable with her driving (and I check that every time I visit) because I have no idea how we’ll handle it. It will almost definitely necessitate a move, and possibly one to another town where she has someone who can keep an eye on her. A bridge I’m sure we’ll need to cross in the next year or so to keep both her and the rest of the world around her safe.
The Arizona City News has an article called “How to begin that conversation about driving with aging parents” that looks like it probably originated from AARP. It offers some good tips for those of us facing this issue.
Labels: aging parents, driving