Senior citizens who develop arthritis or stiffness in their neck or joints, or problems with their legs or other physical challenges, can sometimes extend the length of time they can drive safely through vehicle modifications.
Installing certain types of rear and side view mirrors or hand controls for the gas and brake pedals are among options that can be considered, says Scott A. Trudeau, PhD, director of practice engagement for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
“The piece often lost in our discourse,” Trudeau told Rethinking65 in a recent interview, “is that the people who need modifications or changes need them tailored to them individually.”
Conversations Must Precede Sharp Declines in Skill
But most seniors and their families wait far too long to talk about how medical, physical or mental limitations create driving challenges, says Trudeau. “The talk” may not happen until seniors are past the point where, for example, vehicle modifications, stronger eyeglass lenses or other measures will be sufficient.
“Families often avoid or delay addressing issues with their older loved ones since starting a conversation about safe driving is too often associated with a need to stop driving,” Trudeau said in a recent press release. “In reality, it is often not that cut and dried. It’s more about how and when you drive most safely, not if we need to take your keys away today.”
Modifications such as evaluating and possibly changing medications, not driving at night or making adjustments to vehicles can help, he says.
CarFit Evaluates Limitations, Offers Suggestions
AOTA, AARP and AAA have partnered to develop CarFit, a free and confidential initiative using a 12-point checklist to help older drivers ensure their vehicles are adjusted for optimal safety and comfort. Participants also receive valuable information about local resources to enhance their mobility and independence.
Those who assess their driving skills and explore options as soon as problems start to develop, rather than waiting until conditions worsen, stand a better chance of finding ways to help them drive safer, says Trudeau.
Enhanced Mirrors, Hand Brakes and other Accommodations
Seniors who have difficulty turning their heads to check blind spots, or for parking, may benefit from extended rearview mirrors or enhanced sideview mirrors. The mirrors can be purchased in auto parts stores and often installed without a specialist. This depends on any applicable regulations, which vary from state to state, Trudeau adds.
A rotating cushion affixed to a stationary base can be placed on the driver’s seat to help individuals who, because of decreased neck or hip mobility or arthritis of the spine, can no longer easily turn their heads to the right to check the blind spot or park, says Trudeau.
“A person has to have good trunk control to turn” toward the rear of the car, he notes. “But the person needs to understand the adaptation and may need to practice using it.”
More involved modifications, such as installing hand controls for the gas and brake pedals, require a specialist to install them, Trudeau adds.
Some states require that a healthcare provider and state officials approve the modifications and some require driver training on new equipment. Drivers adding these features should check with their states’ motor vehicle commissions.
A Driver-Rehabilitation Expert Can Help
Anyone planning to modify their vehicle’s braking, steering or acceleration — or looking to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle — should first talk with a professional, Susie Touchinsky, an occupational therapist and certified driver rehabilitation specialist, said in a recent Consumer Reports article.
“Installing items such as pedal extenders which attach to the accelerator and brake or hand controls and spinner knobs for steering on your own could be dangerous,” Touchinsky said in the article. In many states, individuals using these devices may be required to have a restriction added to their driver’s license, she added.
For more information, check the AOTA’s list of driving rehabilitation providers to find one nearby. A consultation usually lasts about three hours and can be done at a medical facility or at the driver’s home.
When Seniors Are in Denial
Seniors who develop driving challenges are often in denial, refusing entreaties from adult children asking them to make modifications or to stop driving. What does a family do when faced with this?
Trudeau says family members shouldn’t try to go it alone. “This is where financial planners can make an impact,” he says.
When family members tell seniors they can no longer drive safely, it often becomes confrontational, he notes. Financial planners can help explain not only the reality of the current situation, but how seniors can adapt and find alternatives for getting around, Trudeau says.
“Some seniors will say, ‘I can’t afford to hire Ubers all the time,’” Trudeau says. “But if they don’t have cars anymore, they don’t have car loans, and costs for maintenance, gas and tolls. When you do the math, you’ll be surprised how close it comes.”
Also, many towns and counties offer free or low-cost transportation for seniors to visit grocery stores and medical offices. These offices can also inform seniors about public transportation. Plus, many services deliver groceries, medication and other staples.
Family members concerned about seniors with dementia can enlist a doctor to do an evaluation and, if necessary, help explain to seniors why it’s unsafe for them to continue driving, Trudeau said.
For more information, visit the National Institute on Aging’s resource page for safe driving for older adults.
Denise DiStephan is an award-winning, veteran journalist and communications professional based in New Jersey.
