When it’s time to hang up the keys, what do you say to an older driver?
If you are an older driver, how do you prepare for the time when being behind the wheel no longer seems the right way to get from place-to-place?
Like many aging issues, including money and long-term care, the discussion about the need to stop driving is not an easy one. Beyond the practical issues of how you get where you need to go, there are the psychological issues of giving up some of your independence. And just think of how many times a story begins… when I was driving my (name favorite car); or, we all piled into the (name favorite car) for the trip of our life.
It’s part of the American love affair with the automobile. and no wonder it is so hard to give up.
During holiday gatherings there is often heightened awareness of this issue as we see, for the first time, some diminished ability of an older loved one to drive safely. Sometimes, it’s just making slight changes in driving behaviors. Other times it’s finding a way to have the discussion about moving from driver to passengerto avert a serious accident.
The good news is that there are lots of resources available to help you or your loved one make the transition from driver to passenger. And the more pre-planning you do, the easier the transition can be.
Whether for yourself or an older driver, here are resources that can help you plan for the day when you won’t be driving to helping an older driver make the transition from driver to passenger.
How to Help an Older Driver AAA Foundation
Hartford resources: Family Conversations with Older Drivers and Driving and Dementia
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- Older Driver Information and Articles
And here are some tips for making the transition from driver to passenger for those with dementia.
| Dementia and DrivingTips for Easing the Transition from Driver to Passenger: |
| – Drive shorter distances. |
| – Drive only on familiar roads. |
| – Avoid difficult, unprotected left turns. |
| – Avoid driving at night, in heavy traffic, during rush hour or during bad weather. |
| – Arrange to have prescription medicines, groceries and meals delivered. |
| – Have hairdressers make home visits. |
| – Schedule people to visit regularly. |
| – Arrange for friends to take the person with dementia on errands or to social events. |
The Hartford, MIT AgeLab and Boston University
One couple I spoke with recently talked about putting the cash from the sale of their car and the amount they would have paid for auto insurance into a “transportation account.” They tapped those funds for transportation services and cabs to get where they needed to go, allowing them to retain a sense of independence and less reliance on family and friends.
Others include transportation service as a key part of their requirements for relocating, knowing that easy access to a bus or van service can keep them mobile.
Do you have a story to share or a tip that’s worked in helping an older driver make the transition?


