In this thread I discuss elderly driving, plus the efficacies of testing the elderly at different ages soas to avoid horrible accidents such as the recent Santa Monica Tragedy.
I’ve changed my mind! Why don’t we just throw all people over 75 into special internment camps and give them an electric golf cart for transportation, we’ll call the communities Sun City ! How about that? Have at it grandma!!
Seriously now, our parents parents are living longer due in no small part to medical advancements, early retirements etc…etc… The quality of life is ever better with each passing year for some.
My parent’s are not elderly my dad is in his 60’s and mom is almost there. They are both reletively healthy people. I shiver to think I will one day have to take key’s away, or decide on putting one or both into a home (most likely never happen). These are hugely difficult decisions and they are being made everyday.
How is the decision to test elderly driving ever going to be made on a state or national level? Will it ever happen? Should it happen?
I have 42 more years before I’m 75 years old. I wonder if I’ll see it in my lifetime.
What if they resist giving up the keys? Are we going to see you wrestling grandma? How can you compel someone to do anything against their will without any legal justification?
I think that’s the point. Legal justification is what is needed. I think there should be laws citing an age one must get retested. I think there are in some states, but certainly not nationally.
This would be hard to put into practice. I do think that you should be tested for dirving ability again as you approach elderly status, but, who says it will end there?
Should the elderly also demonstrate their abilities with handling money?
What about the elderly gun owners?
Should there also be some guidelines put into place regarding personal safety? Every winter you hear of an elderly person dying because of space heaters in enclosed places. Should we monitor that as well?
The list could go on and on, but, who is going to want to enforce those laws?
I dread the day myself. My father is 70 and is the early stages of Alzheimer’s. If it weren’t for my mom, yes, one of us kids would have to be over there, taking away keys and whatnot.
Moderator’s Note: Phlosphr, you already have a thread going to discuss the eldery and driver’s licenses and whether or not people should be periodically re-tested above a certain age. Is there actually some separate issue you want to discuss in this one?