When is it Time for Your Mom or Dad to Stop Driving

by Carmen Scott

Category: Senior & Zoomers

We all know that someday our parents will have to stop driving, and for many, like retirement, they have planned for this day... but if your parent has let time slips by and denial sets in, now is the time to do something. But if you have also been in denial because the confrontation is just too difficult.

Here are some useful tips. The key is to prepare your mom or dad to stop driving, but at the same time they can maintain as much freedom and control and choice in their lives as possible.Assessing the Situation: One way to assess whether or not there is a problem let them take you for a spin. You are going to make sure that they have the following abilities.

1. Mental - ability to make split second decisions, judgment and instant complex problem-solving, memory and ability to plan alternatives (in case of detours, etc.)

2. Physical - strength and flexibility. Ability to move fluidly to control the gas and break, to turn one.s head and neck to monitor traffic, and for backing and parking

3. Visual - senior citizens driving must read street signs, traffic signals, anticipating actions of other drivers, peripheral vision to see traffic coming from the side or what's around when turning or changing lanes, changes of vision in different levels of light: bright sunlight, dusk, night driving.

Start getting your parent to be less car-dependent, so you can ease the transition into a non-driver lifestyle. Start arranging transportation to Mom and Dad's favorite places, identify shuttle services, and take advantage of free deliveries (from groceries, pharmacies, doctor's offices).

Public transit /home care/ senior community centres, volunteer groups including churches. Any one approaching 80 years of age , must take a Driver's Medical Exam with ICBC (includes a medical exam and a re-examination road test) If you still can't have the conversation with your parent, then talk to their doctor or optometrist...both can make the decision to remove their driving privileges.

In the end we want everyone to be safe on the road. BCAA provides free mature driving workshops at recreation and senior centres. Our resource pick this week is SeniorsBC.ca type "driving workshop" You can find driving workshops under "special Interests", or "workshops/seminars" on GreyPlay101.com