We often get asked the question from adult children about information to help them determine whether or not their aging parents should be driving.
In case you are wondering yourself, for a parent or a loved one, here are a few resources to help you understand the physicians role in the process and what you can do as a child to help your parent relinquish the keys. Know that it is a very difficult conversation to have with our aging parents and one that requires compassion and careful planning.
Assessing Medical Fitness to Drive (Canadian Medical Association article), by Dr. Shawn Marshall
Assessing medical fitness to drive in the older driver is an important responsibility that provides challenges for both the physician and patient. Although further research into valid evidence-based screening tools for physicians is still needed, incorporating a standardized approach can allow the physician to carry out this evaluation with more confidence.
Candrive, Driving Research for Older Adults
Initiated in 2002, the Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (Candrive) is an interdisciplinary health related research program dedicated to improving the safety of older drivers.
Older Driver Safety (American Medical Association)
The American Medical Association (AMA) believes that the safety of older drivers is a public health issue. Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of injury-related deaths in the older population (persons 65 years and older).
AMA Physician’s Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers
This Physician’s Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers was developed by the American Medical Association in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Resources for Patients & Families
For many, a driver’s license symbolizes independence. The decision to retire from driving can have both practical and emotional implications on one’s life. Families can assist their loved ones in the transition to a life without driving by being informed. Here are some resources to help.