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Newark, NJ—Older drivers have a lifetime of valuable
driving experience and most hope to continue to drive independently
as long as possible. However, changes in vision, physical fitness,
and reflexes may cause safety concerns for their families. By accurately
assessing these changes, children of elderly parents can ensure
their safety on the road or help them to choose other kinds of
transportation.
“While most older adults take appropriate steps when
they detect a problem with their driving, they may not immediately
recognize general health problems that lead to a driving impairment,” reports
Howard Kuo, M.D., Section Chief of Neurology at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center. “Sometimes the observations of loved ones
are needed, along with the guidance of health professionals.”
If a health condition is a concern, then a screening for ability
to drive should take place. Situations that necessitate a screening
include:
- A medical
condition such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease,
head injury, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, Lou Gerhig’s
disease, mental health conditions.
- When the
use of medications may interfere with driving.
- When drivers
whose reaction time, vision or hearing, strength, motor reflexes,
or perception skills have decreased due to disease or aging.
“To be a safe driver, you must have the ability to scan
the environment quickly and effectively,” says Michael Giuffrida,
MS, OTR CHT, Occupational and Hand Therapist at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center. “Drivers have to respond to many unforeseen
events that can happen, such a child running into the street or
a car stopping suddenly.”
Determining a Safe Elderly Driver. Safe elderly drivers require
the coordination of many different skills. The physical and mental
changes that accompany aging can diminish the abilities of elderly
drivers. Watch for telltale signs of decline in the
elderly person's driving abilities. Do they:
- Drive
at inappropriate speeds, either too fast or too slow?
- Respond
slowly to or not notice pedestrians, bicyclists and other
drivers?
- Ignore,
disobey or misinterpret street signs and traffic lights?
- Fail
to yield to other cars or pedestrians who have the right-of-way?
- Fail
to judge distances between cars correctly?
- Become
easily frustrated and angry?
- Appear
drowsy, confused or frightened?
- Have
one or more near accidents or near misses?
- Drift
across lane markings or bump into curbs?
- Forget
to turn on headlights after dusk?
- Have
difficulty with glare from oncoming headlights, streetlights,
etc.
- Get
lost repeatedly, even in familiar areas?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is "yes," families
should explore whether medical issues are affecting the driver
and seek medical advice.
The American Association of Retired Persons sponsors the 55-Alive
Mature Driver Program, which helps older people deal with issues
associated with aging. There are many ways for elderly drivers
to adjust so they are not a danger to themselves or others.
- Avoid
driving at night and, if possible, at dawn or dusk
- Drive
only to familiar locations
- Avoid
driving to places far away from home
- Avoid
expressways (freeways) and rush hour traffic
- Leave
plenty of time to get where they are going
- Don't
drive alone
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, a 673-bed regional care teaching
hospital, provides comprehensive health care to its local communities
and is a major referral and treatment center for the northern New
Jersey metropolitan area. With more than 800 physicians, 3,200
employees and 150 volunteers, the Medical Center has over 300,000
outpatient visits and 25,000 admissions annually. The
main phone number for Newark Beth Israel Medical Center,
located at 201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace in Newark, is (973)
926-7000, or visit www.barnabashealth.org.
For physician referral information, please call 1-888-724-7123.
Follow us on Twitter: get real time news from the Saint Barnabas
Health Care System at www.twitter.com/barnabas_health .
Date: February 22, 2010
Contact: Beth Salamon
Public Relations
Phone: 973.322.4926
esalamon@barnabashealth.org
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