1. Life
2. Driving

Driving

• Calculator - State-by-State Driving Laws for the Elderly

  A list of the driving rules applicable to senior citizens for every state in the U.S.

• Article - Caregivers' Concerns About Their Parents Driving -- and What to Do About It

  Adult children worry that their parents shouldn't drive -- but they worry even more about discussing driving. How to handle this sensitive issue.

• Article - How to Know When Your Parent Should Stop Driving

  How to Know When Your Parent Should Stop Driving. Risk factors and warning signs that tell you it's time for a parent to stop driving.

• Article - Survey: Boomer Attitudes Toward Elderly Drivers

  Caring.com fielded the “Mature Drivers Survey” among baby boomers to gather insights on how children of aging parents feel about their parents driving safety.

• Article - How to Approach Your Parents With Concerns About Their Driving Ability

  Giving up a driver's license is likely to be difficult for elderly parents. Learn how to approach and talk to elderly parents about driving safety.

• Article - What to Do If Your Parents Refuse to Stop Driving

  How to keep a dangerous driver off the roads and out of harm's way -- what to do if your parents refuse to stop driving.

• Article - The Best Way to Talk to Your Parents About Driving

  You're worried about your parents' driving abilities but don't know how to tell them. Tips for talking with elderly parents about driving.

• Article - Paratransit Service for Seniors

  How paratransit can help your parents stay independent after they can no longer drive.

• Article - Why Giving Up the Car Keys Is Such a Loaded Issue

  Why giving up the car keys is so traumatic for your elderly parents, and how to help prepare them for the day when they have to stop driving.

• Article - Alternatives to Driving

  When your parents can't drive anymore, check out these helpful transportation alternatives.

• Article - Helping Your Parents Stay on the Road -- and Preparing for the Day They Can't Drive

  How to help your elderly parents stay safe when they're behind the wheel -- and prepare for the day when they can no longer drive.

• Quiz - Quiz: Should Your Parent Still be Driving?

  Wondering if your elderly parents are still fit to drive? Take this quick quiz to better understand and assess the risk factors.

• Article - When Your Parents Can No Longer Drive

  Practical tips on how to help your elderly parents cope when it's no longer safe to drive -- and how to help them get around without a car.

• Checklist - 8 Questions to Ask When Your Parent Has a Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis

  These 8 questions will help you make get oriented quickly when your parent's been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Driving: A Love Story

  Giving up the car can be devastating for the elderly, but you can help your parents make the transition to life without a car.

• Blog Post - In Defense of Older Drivers

  Statistics show that older people, in general, are safe, responsible drivers.

• Blog Post - Help for Elderly Drivers -- On and Off the Road

  California's Senior Driver Ombudsman program helps seniors and their families negotiate the whens and hows of giving up driving.

• Blog Post - My mother, who suffers from dementia and alcoholism, wants my sister and me to be her caregivers, so she keeps sending away the one we've hired.

  My sister and I hired a caregiver to come into our...

• Blog Post - A Promising New Lung Cancer Vaccine

  This week brought welcome news for people with non-small cell lung cancer: Long-term results from a clinical trial showed that a new immune-boosting treatment worked as well or better than chemotherapy at reducing relapse.

• Blog Post - The Adult Diaper Wars: A Call to Arms!

  A Canadian government official's threat to wear diapers triggers open talk of how to keep seniors who wear diapers comfortable and healthy.

• Blog Post - Tune in to PBS for Help and Hope on Caregiving

  A new PBS documentary, "Caring for Your Parents," is Reality TV of the purest form -- recognizing that family members now provide 80% of the eldercare in the United States.

• Blog Post - My dad wants to double-date with me!

  What to do when your elderly dad starts dating -- and he wants to double-date with you and your spouse.

• Blog Post - Alcohol Abuse Among Seniors -- the Last Taboo Subject

  Alcohol abuse among seniors still tends to be secret, but new data show it's more common than most people suspect. A guide to how to talk about it.

• Blog Post - Farewell to Falls

  Seniors can prevent life-altering falls by doing balance training exercises.

• Blog Post - Is It Time For Your Parents To Give Up The Car Keys?

  Tips for how to know when it's time for your elderly parent to stop driving -- and what to do about it.

• Blog Post - How much say do I have in determining who is guardian over me and my affairs?

  Do I have any rights in determining my care and who...

• Blog Post - With Alzheimer's, Wandering Is a Merry Name for a Scary Problem

  Innovations in dealing with wandering, which affects 6 in 10 people with Alzheimer's.

• Blog Post - Memory Trouble? Don't Assume It's Alzheimer's

  Memory loss isn't always Alzheimer's: a review of types of memory loss

• Blog Post - Parents' Driving Worries Baby Boomers, But No One Wants to Talk About It

  Survey finds widespread concern among Baby Boomers about their parents' driving -- and reluctance to talk about it

• Blog Post - Over-The-Counter Driving Hazards

  Even simple cold medications can undermine the driving abilities of elderly people.

• Blog Post - My parents are begging me for an occasional drink or cigarette -- even though it's against their doctors' orders.

  Advice on whether it's okay for elderly parents, one of whom uses portable oxygen, to occasionally smoke or drink.

• Blog Post - My mother says she's lonely, and it's heartbreaking for me to hear her crying at night. What can I do to help her?

  My father died seven years ago, and for quite some...

• Blog Post - Behind-the-Wheel Safety for Older Drivers

  Car makers and others are gearing up for an increase in the number of older drivers over the next decade.

Questions & Answers

• Question - Should I put my only daughter on my car title?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I persuade my father to stop driving?

  My father insists on continuing to drive -- against the advice of two doctors. What should I do?

• Question - What's the best way to move my mom from her wheelchair into the car?

  How do you transfer someone from a wheelchair to a car? Devices can help transfer him from the wheelchair to the car, but body mechanics matter too.

• Question - Why is my elderly father having trouble driving at night?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I be sure my mother, who lives on the other side of the country, is driving safely?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can you drive a car while undergoing chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My dad was just diagnosed with mild dementia. Should he still be on the road?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - If I have power of attorney, am I liable if my parents drive even if I think they should stop?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Could herbal supplements affect my mother's ability to drive?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why does my father refuse to sell his car after having his license pulled by the DMV?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Answer to Can You Drive a Car While Having Chemo Question

  Driving while having chemo is a personal decision based on how the cancer patient if feeling and whether fatigue and other symptoms might interfere with driving.

• Question - My parents are 81 & 82, my father was in a bad car accident...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My mom has macular degeneration, but still insists on driving. Is there anything I can do?

  My mother has macular degeneration. Should she still be driving?

• Question - Since he lost his license, my father seems to have lost all interest in life. What can I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?

  What's the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia? There are many differences between Alzheimer's and dementia, although they're easily confused.

• Question - How do I get my husband to stop driving as the doctors say he must?

  My husband won't listen to his doctors about driving -- or to me.

• Question - How can I gently approach the subject of handing over the car keys with my dad?

  My father's has Parkinson's disease, and I'm concerned about his driving. How can I raise the subject without making him mad?

• Question - My mother needs help but is unwilling to accept it. What should I do?

  How can I help my mother when she fights me on everything?

• Question - How do I get my 90 yr old mother to go to a nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get my parents to simplify their affairs before something happens?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is a personal emergency response system appropriate for a parent who travels?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can I do to encourage my dad to wear his emergency response device?

  This question has been answered by two Caring.com Experts

• Question - My dad refuses to obey his doctor's orders and stop driving

  My father's doctor has instructed him to stop driving, but he refuses to comply. What should I do?

• Question - What is my first step in administering my mother's will?

  The first step is usually the hardest: Finding and organizing the property your mothe owned at her death.

• Question - How can I help my parent control nausea while he's on chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How long does insulin last once it's been opened?

  How long does insulin last, and does it expire faster if not refrigerated? Here's expert advice on how long insulin lasts and how best to store it.

• Question - If my grandmother should die while visiting me in another state, can I transport her home in my own personal vehicle?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Now that my mom is in a nursing home, how can I make the most of my one-hour visits with her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My father-in-law is depressed and has no daily activities to occupy him.

  This question has been answered by three Community Members

• Question - Should I take cigarettes away from my mother, who has Alzheimer's, for fear she'll start a fire?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I get my father, who has prostate cancer, to accept help from others?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I handle my elderly mother who doesn't want me to travel at all?

  An elderly parent may worry or get upset when you travel; she may even claim she'll die while you're away. Should you give up travel to ease her mind?

• Question - Can my grandmother pay me directly with her Medicaid "spend down" for services I provide?

  Can my grandmother pay me for some of her caregiving costs to spend down for Medicaid? Yes, some caregiving costs apply to Medicaid spend down.

• Question - How can I convince my dying mother to write a "goodbye" letter to her grandchildren?

  Should your parent write a goodbye letter to loved ones? Expert advice about whether to nudge her to write a goodbye letter as part of her legacy.

• Question - What if I'm worried about my dad's Alzheimer's but he and my mom aren't?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - How can I get my mom to agree to wear adult diapers?

  My parent refuses to wear diapers. She has moved in with us, and she needs to wear adult diapers, but we haven't been able to persuade her to do it.

• Question - How can I get my mother to acknowledge that she has Alzheimer's?

  Should I tell my parent she has Alzheimer's? Expert advice on how to talk about Alzheimer's when your parent is starting to experience dementia.

• Question - Does Alzheimer's disease cause my mother's rummaging behavior?

  Rummaging is a common Alzheimer's behavior, though you may feel like it's driving you crazy. Alzheimer's behaviors like rummaging help calm a patient.

• Question - My father has colon cancer. What's the best way to deal with his angry outbursts?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get a check cashed that was written to my deceased mother's estate?

  It will take some fancy footwork -- and possibly a court proceeding -- to cash a check made out to your mother after her death.

• Question - When someone is incapacitated, how can another person get POA for them?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What's the best gift I can give my dying mother?

  When someone is terminally ill, you may not know what gift to give for a birthday or other event. Material goods may not be what a dying person needs.

• Question - Should I put my mom in a nursing home as her care has gotten too much for me?

  Should I put my mom in a nursing home? Putting your parent in a nursing home could be the best thing for her, physically and mentally.

• Question - How can I tell if my parent has Alzheimer's or depression?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - With both my parents in the hospital, how can I pay their bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Is there any inexpensive insurance for the disabled?

  Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage may all be available to someone on permanent disability.

• Question - Does Medicare offer assistance for transportation equipment?

  Medicare Part B can pay most of the cost of wheelchairs and walkers.

• Question - How careful of germs do we need to be when my father's white blood count is low?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can Alzheimer's affect how someone feels about the outdoors?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I handle my dad's denial about his diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I encourage my mom to continue to want to live?

  When giving up is “all in the mind,” there may be clinical help, but you may also simply have to accept the process.

• Question - Do we need a court order for the bank stating my mother is unable to handle her financial affairs any longer?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Getting Around When Driving Isn't Possible

  For advice on how to help your elderly parents cope...

• Tip - Resources for Tuning Up Driving Skills

  Elderly drivers can assess and brush up on their driving...

• Tip - Why Older Drivers Should Keep Fit

  Research has shown that keeping fit can help older...

• Tip - The Right Car for Your Parent

  The car your parent once drove comfortably -- and safely...

• Tip - Buy little favorites in bulk

  I found that due to Mother's forgetfulness, she was...

News

• News - Obesity Driving Rising U.S. Health Costs

  TUESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is a big...

• News - Morphine Painkillers Won't Impair Driving

  SATURDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate, long...

• News - Defibrillators Not Dangerous While Driving

  MONDAY, Nov. 26 (HealthDay News) -- The defibrillators...

• News - Seasonal Safety Tips for Older Adults

  MONDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults should...

• News - Driving Skills Decline Among People With Early Alzheimer's

  THURSDAY, Jan. 24 (HealthDay News) -- People with early...

• News - Harnessing Human Energy for Medical Good

  THURSDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Anyone who has...

• News - Ignition Locks Prevent Repeat DWI Offenses

  FRIDAY, Feb. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Breath-testing...

• News - Americans Sleepier Than Ever

  MONDAY, March 3 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are working...

• News - Price Plays Part in Perceived Power of Medication

  TUESDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) -- When people think...

• News - Alcoholics Not to Blame for All Drunk Driving Cases

  THURSDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- It's easy to...