Driving can be a hot topic for seniors. There are always stories floating around out there about senior citizens having their keys taken away by family members that don’t trust them anymore. There are also always stories about seniors that are driving that shouldn’t be for a variety of reasons.
Both of these scenarios are fairly common, unfortunately. Aging, and the health issues that can come along with it, can be a big factor when it comes to someone’s ability to be on the roads in a safe manner.
In order to assess the impact that medications had on someone’s ability to drive, researchers followed a group of seniors for about ten years, testing their driving ability with annual road tests. They found that some medications had more of a likelihood to be associated with failed road tests than others.
Antidepressants, sleeping medications, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs tended to be the biggest culprits when it came to impairing someone’s ability to drive, according to a study published by Washington University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis. And although these medications were associated with people struggling with impaired or dangerous driving, the study authors were quick to point out that this does not necessarily mean that they are the cause of the impaired driving. For example, the issues that these meds are supposed to be treating also may play a major role in the reduced ability to safely be on the road.
Individuals also need to be proactive about this. If you have an older family member that is still driving, odds are you are not administering a yearly driving test to make sure that your loved one is still able to drive safely. But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other things that you can be on the lookout for to ensure that they are still safe on the roads. Looking at things like cognitive ability, mobility, reaction times, and more can help give you a better idea about how safe your loved one might be.
Ultimately, someone’s ability to drive must be evaluated on a case by case basis. And when it comes to medications, sometimes driving can be impaired on an only temporary basis. This is why it’s important to consult with a doctor about any concerns or questions you might have about a medication that you or a loved one are taking. Oftentimes, concerns about mixing medications and driving can be easily addressed and resolved in the doctor’s office.
Seniors often will benefit from increased support by their doctors, family members, and other professionals as they age. This is true when it comes to medication management, safe driving, and many other aspects of life. If you would like to learn where professional senior care fits in with all of this, Paradise In-Home Care is happy to help out.
Do you want to learn more about how high quality senior care can help you and your family when it comes to things like this? Please give us a call to talk more or schedule a free consultation.
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