Improving Senior Driving
By the year 2020, it's estimated there will be 40 million drivers age 65 and over on roads in the United States, which is triple the number of drivers in that age group today (www.aaa.com). Personal independence is highly valued by Americans and for most of us getting our driver's license was a major milestone on the journey to adulthood and independence.
As people age, they tend to change their driving habits as their acuity and physical abilities decline as the normal part of growing older. The senior may avoid highways and drive when the roads are less busy. Even so, statistics show that seniors are still at an increased risk for being involved in a multi-vehicle accident, most often at intersections. However, reputable organizations offer driving-skill assessments for seniors and provide educational programs that can help seniors hone their driving abilities, activate their brains, and keep them safer and on the roads for longer.
Why Seniors Are At Risk for Driving Dangerously
Signs that a senior driver needs some exposure to safer driving techniques include multiple "close calls", tickets or collisions; difficulty in noticing peripheral objects like pedestrians, signage or other vehicles; and a noticeable decline in vision, hearing or response time.
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We are happy to meet with families and their loved ones to answer questions about support for living at home or enriched living options like assisted living or memory care. |
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Greetings!
Helping keep seniors safe is my #1 goal when advising families about overall care needs at home or finding other living options like assisted living. Two of the most important safety issues for seniors are safe driving and preventing falls.
I hope my articles on these topics are helpful. If you have specific questions about these or other senior safety issues, please call or email me. Again, thank you for all of your wonderful comments on previous "Aging Matters" Newsletters!
Warm regards,
Mary Buszuwski, CSA
Founder and Certified Senior Advisor
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Preventing Falls in Older Adults
Every year one in three adults age 65 and older falls. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head injuries, and can increase the risk of early death.
How Big is the Problem?
* One in three adults age 65 and older falls each year but less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it.
* Among older adults (those age 65 or older), falls are the leading cause of injury death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
* 70% of accidental deaths in people over the age of 75 results from falls. 25% of seniors that experience a hip fracture from a fall die within a year.
* Approximately 2.3 million nonfatal injuries from falls occur among older adults that are treated in emergency departments every year and more than 662,000 of these patients were hospitalized.
* 40% of all nursing home admissions are attributable to repeated falls at home.
Causes of Falling
Falling can be a sign of other health problems. Medica-tions, vision and hearing problems can contribute to dizziness, loss of balance and falling. Older adults with chronic conditions may have more difficulty walking.
People experiencing memory problems, having difficulty with activities of daily living, and needing help to get around or taking care of themselves are at higher risk for falling.
Environmental factors play a significant role in falling. Simple items such as the absence of handrails, obstructed walkways, poor lighting, and loose and/or thick pile carpets are just a few of the every-day examples of high risk situations for falling in our living environments.
(888) 229-1209
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