How to Make Driving Safer for Seniors
Eyesight and Hearing
Your senior loved one should not be driving if they have not had their eyes checked in the last two years. You should also make certain that the windows and mirrors in the vehicles are kept clean to insure they can see properly out of them. If you notice any hearing difficulties, address this with your senior loved one so they can make sure they can hear well enough to respond when driving.
Physical Difficulties
Your senior loved one may have lost some height in the aging process and this could affect their driving. Pillows placed behind their back may help them to position themselves comfortably when driving and give them better views from the mirrors. If you are worried about
Indeed, healthy eyes are always required while you are required while you are driving. Especially, when you are driving on the night, healthy eyes will help you to see more clearly and drive carefully. In the article, the author mentioned that she was uncertain the signals and slowed down when she noticed that there is a problem with her eyes. Yes, eye problems could cause several negative influences, such as, car
Every May fifth Americans across the United States take the opportunity to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with parades, mariachi music, folk dancing, Mexican food and of course margaritas. But for most Mexicans Cinco de Mayo it’s not a big deal. It is nothing more than a national holiday. Cinco de Mayo is one of the most misunderstood Mexican holidays.
Once people reach a certain age their health starts to degrade. It is more severe with some people than with others because it can faster to some people and slower to others. This severely affects a person’s driving capabilities. You need to have keen vision to spot hazards on the road.
why an annual mandatory driving and written test will separate those who can and can not operate a vehicle safely. These tests should be mandatory over a certain age. The driving test is important to better access relexes and other senses while the written test may seperate those who maintained psychical abilites yet lack in other ability such as memory and if raod signs and rules of the road are still familior. According to Alzheimer 's Society many indivduals with dementia may still be able to drive for some time until their dementia progresses. Part of the problem is that many older drivers feel that driving is a largely automatic activity and should be able to continue. The Alzheimer 's Society also states that many with dementia retain their learned skills even after being diagnosed, and that "driving is a complicated task that requires a split-second combination of complex thought processes and manual skills, such as “make sense of and respond to everything they see – including road signs and obstacles” ( Alzheimers Society)
Over the years, seniors experience a gradual decline in their physical and mental performance. While there is no getting around this fact, the rate at which this decline occurs isn't etched in stone. The following suggestions will slow this decline and extend a senior's ability to drive safely for many more years.
MacReady, N. (2004, August). Is elderly patient driving? Watch for red flags. Clinical Psychiatry News, 32(8), 41. Retrieved from http://db16.linccweb.org/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com.db16.linccweb.org/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=lincclin_mdcc&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA121779767&asid=27681e9ea56b005a1b91df71d0e88519
A hero traditionally envisions themselves as a hero when they are put through countless challenges and trials. A hero’s journey follows a certain pattern known as The Hero’s Quest Cycle. This Journey forms the basic template for all great stories. The journey's path is described variously, but in general it includes the call to adventure, a supernatural aide or mentor, initiation by trials and adventures, victory, and return. Woolverton, Mecchi and Robert’s story, ‘The Lion King’, Simba (Protagonist) rotates around The Hero’s Journey. Three stages that are in this movie are Meeting the Mentor, Tests Allies and Enemies, Approach to the Innermost Cave. These stages are prime examples of how Simba goes through The Hero’s Journey which defines
Rigor mortis, (death stiffening or cadaveric rigidity) is a state of stiffening of muscles, after death, with slight shortening of fibres (Oberoi, Singh, Aggarwal, Walia, Bhullar, Aggarwal, 2015). Postmortem rigidity, commences after a 3- to 6-hour period of muscular flaccidity at death and lasts up to 36 hours, after which it diminishes. Temperature is inaccurate for determining time of death.
As we age, the skills and abilities related to driving tend to decline. When you are no longer confident with your driving skills due to vision problems, confusion, or issues with If you are someone who needs assistance with activities of daily living, for a short period of time or permanently, you can enjoy the benefits home care has on physical and emotional health by contacting your local Agency on Aging to obtain resources and more information on services available to you. motor skills, transportation assistance can be arranged while allowing you to maintain your independence. It can be difficult and overwhelming for seniors to run errands like they used to. Home Care provides transportation assistance to help you attend doctor appointments, religious services, visiting friends, grocery shopping, going to the bank, and other events or daily
The loss of physical strength makes it difficult to maneuver a motor vehicle. A Driver is required to use necessary body parts such as their head and neck to check for blind spots before changing lanes and their hands and arms to grip the steering wheel. Elderly driver’s reflexes are much slower than when they were younger. Their response time to traffic signals, reacting to unexpected pedestrians and other motorists moving in front of them is slower.
Many concerns have been expressed about the potential dangers elderly drivers present when operating a vehicle. Mental and physical capabilities begin to decline as a person ages. When their health deteriorates, the well being of other individuals on the road is at stake. Many elderly drivers should not drive due to their medical history and the fact that they might suffer from possible side effects from taking multiple prescription medicines. In addition, local organizations and neighbors can provide transportation for the elderly to keep them from endangering themselves and others. The threat senior citizens create when driving can be avoided if they are tested to ensure their competence as a driver.
Millions of people drive each day, some heading to work, some to vacation destinations, some to entertainment, and some just for fun. Within these millions, there are all types of drivers; aggressive, passive, new, experienced, and elderly to name a few. The elderly comprise of more than 40 million people age 65 and older in the United States and of those 40 million, 34 million are licensed drivers (NHTSA). Elderly driving has become an alarming subject throughout many communities in the United States as it concerns the safety and health of themselves as well as other drivers. One article shares, as 80-year-old Daniel was driving to the grocery store one day, he ran over a curb and hit a trash can. Luckily he was not hurt and his car suffered only minor scratches. Although unscathed, Daniel was emotionally distraught having almost hit a young woman waiting at the bus stop (Older Drivers). This story as well as many others has triggered a crucial debate about the rights and well-being of senior drivers. Most people believe these older drivers should have an age restriction determining when they should and should not be able drive. However, getting older does not mean people lose all capability to drive. In opposition, driving and health tests should be required at the age of 65 to prove they are capable of safe driving rather than revoking their licenses.
If you ever told my Granny that she could hurt herself while driving, you better brace yourself for a tirade that could last for days. Little did she know, elderly people are as much a danger to themselves as they are to others. In a car crash, the
“An eighty-six year old man killed ten people and injured more than seventy when he drove his Buick into a crowded farmers market in California. In Florida, an eighty-four year old woman drove her car through a window of a Sears and into a cash register and employee” (Murphy). Sadly enough, instances like these are becoming more and more prevalent and require immediate action. It is imperative that a more comprehensive approach be taken when deciding the competence of elderly drivers. Laws must be put into action to mandate and administer testing and re-examining of the skills and eligibility of this group. Equally important, we must consider those who will no longer be able to drive, and ensure their transportation and occupational needs
The level of precautions used when driving is based on an individual’s skills and mind set, not on their age. However, car insurance companies do not view it this way. They assume that due to their age, young drivers will not pay attentions to what they are doing and are more likely to get distracted by friends, music, or cell phones than their older counterparts would be.