Staying Fit to Drive
It is no surprise that as we age, we run into physical difficulties that make it more difficult to get around and do many of the things we have been doing the majority of our lives.
What many of us do not realize is that many of the little aches and pains we begin to feel as we age can prove dangerous when we are behind the wheel of a car.
In an article on the AARP website entitled, “Program Steers Seniors toward Safer Driving“ (originally published in the Times Union on December 16, 2008), Christen Gowen provides the following tips (link to the full article for more detailed descriptions) for keeping seniors healthy and physically fit enough to continue driving:
- See an opthamologist annually and do not delay cataract surgery
- Ensure you are able to look over your shoulder and to check blind spots
- Ensure that you have good reflexes and are still able to make quick decisions
- Ask your physician or pharmacist if new medications will affect your driving
The article stresses that driving rehabilitation specialists and occupational therapists are frequently able to work with seniors to keep them physically fit enough to stay on the road safely.
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The hardest part about realizing that the time to give up driving is quickly approaching is the realization that your mobility and independence are the first things to go. ITNAmerica is a national non-profit working towards restoring independence to seniors who choose to stop driving. Check out “Kathy’s Blog” (http://blog.itnamerica.org/), the personal blog of ITNAmerica President and Founder Katherine Freund, as she keeps you updated on happenings at ITNAmerica as well as gives tips and strategies to lovingly convince loved ones that there are options after giving up driving. Or learn more about senior’s independence options at http://www.itnamerica.org.