Once you reach the age of 70, the risk of being involved in traffic accident increases significantly. It was reported that on an average day, 712 seniors are injured in a car accident and about 19 lose their lives.

So, is it time to ask your parents to stop driving around? But how do you know it’s time they shouldn’t drive? What will they do if they have to visit a doctor?

Utah Doctors At Home offers in home health care services to help seniors get access to comprehensive medical care in the comfort of their home. So if it is difficult for them to visit the doctor, let the doctor come visit them.

So now that it is easier to have a doctor at home, how do you know when’s the right time for seniors to stop driving?

Factors Affecting Driving Ability

Seniors above the age of 70 are at high risk of getting involved in car accidents. There are certain health factors that can decrease a person’s ability to drive. Some of them are:

Medical conditions

If a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, it can affect their judgment capabilities along with creating confusion, dexterity issues, and limited mobility.

Hearing

Seniors driving ability may be reduced because of reduced hearing power. As they can fail to hear important warning signs, they can put their lives in danger.

Medications

Some drug interactions can slow down a person’s reaction time or cause drowsiness.

Vision

Seniors suffering from macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are more likely to have reduced ability to see. This can further lead to difficulty in seeing at night, poor judgment, and sensitivity to sunlight.

How To Access Senior’s Driving Skills

To get a clear picture of whether seniors should be allowed to drive or not, ride with them in different conditions and at a different time of the day. Make the following observations.

  • Are they staying in their lane?
  • Are they able to control the car?
  • Are they struggling to drive at night?
  • Are there unexplained dents on the car?
  • Are they confused in heavy traffic?
  • Do they have trouble driving on freeways?

Talk To Them
If you are worried about your parent’s safety when they drive alone, speak with them in a caring way. The discussion can be traumatic, but you should focus on helping them understand that they may end up hurting themselves or others.

If they don’t oblige, try talking to their health care service provider as seniors are more likely to listen to their doctor. It is never a good idea to block the car usage, hide the keys, or involve the police as it can lead to trust issues.

Options Available for Seniors
If your parents live alone and are required to drive to see their primary physician regularly, choose in home medical care services. Utah Doctors At Home offer high-quality medical care services you find at a doctors’ office in the comfort of your home at zero additional cost to you!

Our mobile medical team is made up of skilled physicians, nurse practitioners and an experienced team of health professionals. Thus, doctor at home service eliminates the hassle of traveling to see your doctor and inconveniencing family and friends to take you.

Call 385-247-0050 to learn about admission details!