“Care giving will never be one-size-fits-all.”
Alert Best Nursing - Senior Care and Home Care - Hamilton, Burlington, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Dundas, Oakville
  • HOME
  • OUR SERVICES
    • Our Staff
  • Our Blog
  • ABOUT US
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Important Links
  • CONTACT US
  • Testimonials
  • Health Care Provider Blog
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Blog/Updates

increasing driver safety for seniors

12/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ontario's senior driver programs aim to keep seniors driving for as long as they can safely do so.
Once drivers reach 80 years of age, every two years they must:
  • Take a vision test
  • Undergo a driver record review
  • Participate in a 45-minute Group Education Session (GES)
  • During the GES, complete two, brief, non-computerized in-class screening assignments
  • If necessary, take a road test

Encourage seniors to increase their safety on the road with these tips:

• Stay active to maintain flexibility and strength
• Make sure brakes, steering wheel, and seats function smoothly
• Drive at times of day with good visibility
• Keep up to date on vision and hearing checks
• Use adaptors like extra mirrors
• Leave extra space between vehicles and stay below the speed limit
• Ask doctors about medications and their effects on driving
(National Institute on Aging)

Changes influencing Seniors on the road given how experienced most of them are as drivers, it can be hard for seniors to accept there are safety concerns about their driving. It’s important for them to know this isn’t because they are “bad drivers.” Age-related changes that affect driving for seniors include:

• Limited vision or hearing
• Decreased reaction time, judgment, or attention due to health conditions
• Poor posture
• Weakness when operating a steering wheel, brakes, etc.
• Memory loss that leads to getting lost or confused
• Medications that impair judgment and reaction times

Night-time driving exacerbates the effects of these changes on senior safety as well. 

Conversation Starters for your Senior: 
 
Driving can be a sensitive topic for seniors. Use these questions to start conversations:

• Have you noticed any scratches or dents on your car recently?
• Have you experienced anything frightening on the road lately?
• Do any of your medications affect how you feel when driving?
• Are there any signs on your usual route that have been hard to spot?
• What’s the best route to get between (two points senior should be familiar with)?
• Would it be helpful to you if you didn’t have to drive all the time?
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
 
If you have questions about the Ontario Seniors Driving program, please call 1-800-396-4233 or 
visit: www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/driver/senior-driver-licence-renewal-program.shtml



Senior Care and Home Care - Hamilton, Burlington, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Dundas and Oakville Area
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Yvonne having obtained training in Brain Rehab, Geriatric Care, Palliative Care and Dementia Care and Senior Care.  Keeping up to date with current best practices is critical to providing optimal care for our clients.

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    February 2017
    January 2017
    August 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

call us:

Phone:   (905) 524-5990
Fax:        (905) 524-5999

​

email us:

info@abnursing.ca
​

visit us:

290 Caroline St. South
​Hamilton, ON  L8P 3L9



FOllow us

Alert Best Nursing and Home Care offers Nursing & Personal Support services across the Greater Hamilton Area including but not limited to:
 • Burlington • Ancaster • Dundas • Hamilton • Stoney Creek    


© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Photos used under Creative Commons from ЕгорЖуравлёв, Stannah International, verchmarco, State Farm, LauraGilchrist4, Daniel_Hache