Erie County’s Older Driver Family Assistance Help Network

1. Erie County’s Older Driver Family Assistance Help Network For families, friends, caregivers and loved ones concerned about the safety of an at-risk driver

2. “Caring People Do Address Driving Concerns”

3. Do you remember getting your license?

4. Mobility Freedom What did it mean to you? Self-sufficiency Independence Go where I want when I want Self-reliance

5. The Help Network knows how important safe mobility is for people of all ages.

6. Why be concerned, particularly about older drivers? Nationally,almost 5,533 people aged 65+ died in 2008. An older driver is more vulnerable to injury in a crash than a younger driver There are increasing numbers of older drivers in Erie County

7. Good news about older drivers? • Older adults wear seat belts more than any other group (except infants/preschoolers) • Older drivers limit driving during bad weather and at night • Older drivers drive fewer miles

8. 2001 Administration on Aging Profile • Predict that by 2020, there will be 55 million older adults nationally • Nationally, 31% of seniors live alone • Only about 4% are institutionalized

9. New York State • Isranked3rd nationally for the number of people 60+ • With 3,659,707 people 60+, that’s 18.7% of the total population

10. Erie County—2008 189,983 people were aged 60+ = 21% of total County population, higher than New York State or national averages 23,611 of those were 85+ a 27.5% increase over 2000

11. Erie County’s Changing Age Structure – Projections indicate ¼ of the population will be 60+ in 2015 Source: NYS Statistical Information System, Cornell University

12. NY State Office for the Aging conducted two surveys of caregivers • One survey of caregivers concerned about an at-risk older driver • Another survey of caregivers who had successfully resolved an at-risk older driver situation by either assisting the driver to drive safely or retire from driving

13. Why families, friends, caregivers and loved ones? The NY State Office for the Aging surveyed123 families in 1997 concerned about an unsafe driver: • 79% were female family members or close relative, often living less than ½ hour away. Most had jobs or were caring for other family members, including children. • 70% were concerned for a year or longer.

14. Families and friends care about loved ones • 90% of the drivers about whom they were concerned lived in their own home, with 75% living alone. • 80% respondents were concerned about taking away the person’s independence.

15. Survey results were distilled into a helpful handbook For a copy: Visit www.erie.gov/driving for a link to the New York State Office for Aging site Or call the Help Network number, (716) 858-8526

16. Help Network for Caregivers formed in Erie County, 2001 • Family, friends and caregivers often know when aging loved ones are driving “at-risk” • They want to protect the driver, but often don’t know what to do or where to turn for help

17. What is the Help Network? • Consists of organizations serving Erie County • Experts in the areas of health, driving, law enforcement, and aging

18. Erie County’s Older Driver Family Assistance Help Network • Supplies information about available services • Helps caregivers with problem-solving • Works to remove barriers to services • Helps caregivers to assist an at-risk driver to either drive safely or step away from the wheel

19. “My friend is 93 – and still driving his own car.”

20. The Help Network Understands It is not a driver’s age which is of concern, but how that driver functions on the road.

21. How can someone tell if their loved one is at-risk driving? • Complete a driving safety checklist • In-car assessment by a driver rehabilitation specialist or professional driving instructor

22. Are you concerned about anybody’s driving right now? Have you ever addressed driving concerns with a loved one?

23. Do you know someone who… • Doesn’t obey stop signs, traffic lights, or yield the right-of-way • Doesn’t obey other traffic signs (no left turn, no turn on red, etc.) • Drives too slowly – usually well below the speed limit • Get lost routinely – taking 2 hours to get to the hairdresser or home

24. Do you know someone who… • Drives aggressively • Stops inappropriately • Doesn’t pay attention to other vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, road hazards • Doesn’t stay in lane when turning and driving straight • Has been involved in multiple fender-benders

25. Do you know someone who… • Driver’s spouse, companion, driver’s friends or passengers repeatedly comment about close calls, near misses, driver not seeing other vehicles or unsafe driving • Has been ticketed for moving violations • Gets honked at often

26. Any of these scenarios seem familiar to you??

27. Anyone with these medical and behavioral concerns? • Vision problems (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy) • Problems with judgment or indecisiveness • Memory loss • Disorientation

28. Or these? • Disinhibition (no longer feeling inhibited—improper behavior in social situations) • Squinting, not following visual patterns • Not being quick verbally • Mobility problems • Inadaptability • Fatigue • Confusion

29. Or these? • Not hearing or following verbal instructions • Giving inappropriate responses • Tripping and falling, especially when changing positions or walking on uneven ground • Trouble with fine or gross motor tasks, especially stiff joints • Dizziness when changing positions • Shortness of breath

30. A son visiting his father asked why his father had a check made out to the utility company. The father replied “I ran into their utility pole” Son asked “Do you think it’s time to stop driving?” Father replied “Yeah – it’s getting kind of expensive.” This wasn’t the first time.

31. Other signs of an at-risk driver? • Increases in the driver’s car insurance premium may indicate that driver has had a crash you don’t know about or that driver has been ticketed • Problems with daily living and personal care such as grooming and dressing • Changes in behavior or personality

32. If so, a crash is a real possibility

33. Why are some reluctant to take action? • Don’t want to take away driver’s independence • May need to provide transportation for the driver • Don’t want to have to deal with driver’s anger

34. Consequences of not acting? • Severe injury or death of the driver or their passenger • A child on a bicycle might be hurt • Nagging questions left if you do not act • Driver’s estate tangled up in legal action • Driver’s lifetime record of safe driving ends in sadness and unspeakable regret

35. We place a higher value on driver and community safety We place a very high value on an older driver’s independence

36. The Help Network knows how sensitive the issue can be…to assist, the Help Network has a suggested flowchart to ensure your success in navigating to a successful end. We’re available at any step along the way.

37. What can you do if you suspect someone is an at-risk driver?

38. A key question:Does your driver comprehend?Is there a cognitive impairment? Will your driver understand that passing stop signs, not being able to see clearly, or becoming disoriented makes them unsafe to drive?

39. If the driver can understand the consequences of their driving behavior

40. Will medical intervention help? Will a change in medications make driving safe? Cataract surgery?

41. Driver had driving evaluation -- they contacted her physician to arrange a change in a medication that was adversely affecting her driving. A driver, reported to DMV by his family, passed two retests, but failed the third! Why? He took his medications at noon and the third test was given in the afternoon. Possible solutions? Change the time of medications; no driving after taking the medication, or change the medications themselves if possible Driver, involved in several driving incidents, “bumped” the license plate of car ahead, and followed home by police officer after scraping a car in grocery store parking lot, had cataract surgery to dramatically improve her ability to see

42. Will a skills upgrade help driver? Classes are offered by • AAA • AARP • Driving schools are available for practicing skills

43. Will adaptive equipment help driver?Will equipment compensate for physical limitations? Driver evaluations including advice about adaptive equipment are available • Erie County Medical Center • DeGraff Hospital

44. When the driver cannot improve… • Talk with the driver about leaving the wheel • Family conversation strategies are included in the handbook, When You Are Concerned • Offer a plan for transportation in place of driving the car (family, friends, senior van, taxi, volunteer driver)

45. If driver refuses to leave the wheel • Have police officer talk to driver • Have family attorney talk with driver • Have physician talk with the driver (a driver will follow their doctor’s advice to leave the wheel 80% of the time)

46. Several local physicians write “Do Not Drive” prescriptions when a driver is not safe to drive

47. “They’ll have to pry my car keys out of my dead, lifeless hands –The day I can’t drive myself is the day I die.”

48. If driver still refuses to recognize their unsafe driving • Ask DMV to retest driver • Ask physician to file immediate suspension report with DMV

49. Who can contact DMV to request a driver evaluation? • Police officer (DS-5 form) • Physician (DS-6 form) • Any concerned citizen (DS-7 Form)

50. Any concerned citizen may write a letter of concern to DMV • The form is available at www.erie.gov/driving or by calling the Help Network at 858-8526 • The form includes all of the required components