Elderly drivers are getting help through evaluations

Published: July 9, 2008

As family members get older, one topic a lot of people are facing nowadays is if their loved ones are safe on the roads.

Friendship Retirement Community wants to make sure your family members are safe by offering a driver evaluation. Jean Thompson is one woman who’s already been through the evaluation and took Ten On Your Side for a spin – with a driving trainer, to show us she still has what it takes to get behind the wheel.

Jean Thompson put on her seat belt. She’s 86 years old and drives every day. Last year, her family was afraid she may have had a mini stroke, and they were afraid for her to drive.

“I was sitting on a sofa and they asked me something. They said I didn’t answer, and I looked like I was sorta in a daze for a second,” Thompson said.

She said her doctor told her she was fine, but recommended a driver evaluation.

Vicki Osborne is a driving trainer and owns “Driving for All Ages, Inc.” She works through Friendship Retirement Community for the on-road evaluation.

“We don’t want to take anybody’s freedom away. But we also want to be responsible out here as a society and help out this generation,” said Osborne.

As a trainer, Osborne has seen how some health issues can hinder driving.

“A lot of them do have arthritis, so it’s hard for them to turn and look and check their blind spots. They may be getting Parkinson’s Disease. They may be also in the beginning stage of Glaucoma, so they don’t see as well,” she said.

Before those drivers go out on the road, they’ll come in for a clinical evaluation at Friendship Retirement Community. It’s where occupational therapists will test vision, motor, and cognitive skills. Then, they’ll use a reaction timer system with a steering wheel and pedals. The driver will look at a computer screen, which will simulate a normal driving experience. It tests how quick their reflexes are if something or someone should run out in front of them. It only gives the evaluators a better idea of that person’s driving skills before they go on the road for their driving evaluation.

Osborne instructs Thompson on the road.

“By coming up at an angle it opens up your visibility,” Osborne said.

“Yeah, it does,” said Thompson.

Doctor Soheir Boshra works at the Carilion Center for Healthy Aging. She says driving does not have an age limit.

“People can drive as long as they can, as long as they don’t have a medical problem or hindrance to their driving,” Dr. Boshra said.

Dr. Boshra said major factors include vision, like problems seeing a glare at night.
Also, hearing is a factor – so people are aware of sirens and horns.
As far as any past seizures, Boshra recommends people should be seizure-free for one year before driving.

Dr. Boshra said diabetes is another factor.

“It will change the sensation in the lower extremities, so they don’t feel the pedal,” she said.

Serious warning signs include memory problems and recent accidents. Slow reflexes are another warning sign.

But some aches and pains can be helped. Christine Mangone works in occupational therapy for Carilion. She said a program called “CarFit” helps seniors adapt to their cars.

She showed an “easy-reach seatbelt handle.” It helps drivers pull the seatbelt across themselves if they have a tough time reaching. 

“It would help someone with limited range in their arms to help to get to their seatbelts,” Mangone said.

Leg lifters are also used to help those with arthritis in their legs.

Mangone also showed a “handy bar” which helps both drivers and passengers get out of their vehicles.

“It’s pretty secure. And what it can do is help people get out of the car if they need that extra help,” she said.

Even special mirrors can be used to help drivers see their blind spots.

But Thompson said it was the evaluation itself that helped.

“It also made me more conscious of checking light signals ahead of time, you know, down the road before I get to them,” she said.

The Virginia DMV says it’s mandatory that if you’re 80 years old or older, you need to get your vision checked before renewing your license.

If any changes in your health could affect driving, you’re required to give the DMV a medical statement from your doctor.

From there, the DMV medical board reviews your situation and can recommend options, such as restricted driving, submitting periodic medical reports, or a driving evaluation.

A DMV spokesperson says each situation is different for each person; there are no cut and dry rules.

If you’re interested in learning more about CarFit and how to adapt to your car, you can visit http://www.car-fit.org.