One of the hardest decisions an adult with aging parents has to face is, “When is it time for a parent to stop driving?”

While I’m not in favor of mandating that everyone cease driving after a certain age, the reality is that the changes that come with aging, rather than the age itself, can possibly impair driving skills, and it’s important to assure the safety of everyone involved.

Some of the physical changes that affect driving ability include slower reflexes and reaction time, night vision changes, limited physical mobility such as difficulty turning head or raising arms, fatigue, and, increased risk of medication side effects.

It’s a difficult subject for both the driver and the family, but, here’s a sample of the help available out there:

• Warning Signs – when to stop driving from AARP
• Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully – From the United States Government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this site addresses the aging driver directly
• When to Put the Brakes on Elderly Drivers – a checklist from Aging Parents and Eldercare
• Driving Us Crazy – a interesting Time article about elderly drivers
• Patient Resources for the Older Driver – from the American Medical Association
• AAA Self Rating for the OlderDriver
• In the United States, your local Area Agency On Aging – may have resources to help with older drivers issues and community transportation.
• Also, in the United States, your local unit of National Association of State Units on Aging may be able to help.
• United States Driver’s License Renewal Procedures for Older Drivers

The National Center on Senior Transportation addresses the transportation options for seniors and might be helpful as well.

Many people are aware of their limitations, and, voluntarily stop driving, I hope I will be one of them, someday. However, I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to give up your independence in this way.

Families, health care providers and communities are the most valuable resources for insuring the safety and satisfaction of everyone concerned, when it becomes time for driving retirement.