Supporting the independence of seniors results in a healthier community. Seniors remain linked to their family, friends, health professionals, and local businesses when they have the choice to remain in their own homes. It is also the most cost-effective way to offer assistance and side step the need for assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Helping them to have choices means control and independence, which we all value.
Community Cars aims to help keep the older adults in the community mobile and involved. Besides offering senior friendly transportation, they are also offering educational programs for seniors and their families to promote driver safety, mobility, and ease of transitioning from driving. The program can be a wonderful tool to begin the discussion of giving up the keys.
The following tips will help assess a person’s driver "fitness" and offer suggestions as to how to prepare for the future.
1. Plan ahead for times when you are unable to drive so that you know who to call and what services are available.
2. Choosing not to drive at night; when the weather is bad; or when you are unfamiliar with your destination is a wise choice-not a sign of weakness.
3. Look for multiple ways to stay mobile including walking, ride sharing, or specialized transportation for seniors because it will contribute a lot to your overall health.
4. Make sure you are medically and functionally fit to drive in order to be safe and fully capable of driving.
5. You don’t need to be handicapped to need alternative transportation options.
6. Don’t wait to have an accident or until you have a disability to try a local transportation service.
7. Begin early to build a support network outside of family and friends to include services for your personal needs.
8. Be honest with yourself about whether there are signs that you shouldn’t be driving:
- Near accidents or people honking at you?
- Limiting yourself to driving on local roads or daytime driving?
- Scratches or dents on your car?
- People refusing to ride with you?
9. Remember that the cost of a ride buys you independence and socialization and saves you from the expense of owning and operating a car (can be $6,000/yr.).
10. Your greatest risks include distractions, inattention, hesitation, and confusion.
With the population of seniors over the age of 65 growing to 70 million by the year 2030, we all need to plan ahead making sure our roads are safe for everyone. By that time 25% of our population will be seniors and 90% of them will have a driver’s license. This is the fastest growing segment of our population and we need to make sure they remain independent and vital to the community.
Mobility is so important to all of us, but a necessity for older adults trying to remain independent in their own homes. You can avoid risky behavior by heeding these tips so that you make good choices now before you have to deal with a crisis. Knowing you have choices and making decisions and plans now will avoid being stranded in the future.
The EZ Ride Community Cars Program provides a membership-based transportation program for ambulatory adults over the age of 60 in North Arlington, Lyndhurst, Rutherford, E. Rutherford, Carlstadt, and Wood-Ridge. Users pay a nominal fee. Volunteer drivers help to personalize the service and are always needed.
For more information or to schedule an Older Driver Safety Presentation, please call Suzanne Lyon at (201) 939-4242 x 40.
Meadowlink provides transportation services for about 8,000 commuters daily including 500 vanpoolers, 1,500 shuttle riders, and 10,000 carpoolers in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Monmouth and Union Counties.