Driving
Driving is an important part of everyday life for many people and making the decision to stop driving can be very difficult. Tell your doctor if you or people close to you are concerned about your driving and why. You might say,
I am finding it difficult to drive in glaring sunlight and at night. or
Other drivers keep honking at me when I am going the speed limit.
Your doctor can go over your medical conditions and medications to see if there are treatable problems that may be contributing to driving difficulties. Vision and memory tests are important. The doctor also may be able to suggest a driver’ s education refresher class designed for older drivers. You may decide it is safest for you to stop driving. In addition to public transportation, local Area Agencies on Aging offer affordable transportation for older adults. The Eldercare Locator is another resource for transportation for older adults( https:// eldercare. acl. gov / Public / Resources / LearnMoreAbout / Transportation. aspx).
Falling and Fear of Falling
A fall can be a serious event, often leading to injury and loss of independence, at least for a while. For this reason, many older adults develop a fear of falling. Studies show that fear of falling can keep people from going about their normal activities and, as a result, they may become frailer, which increases their risk of falling. If fear of falling is affecting your day-to-day life, let your doctor know. You might say,
I am not as strong as I once was, and my eyesight is not as sharp. I am worried about falling.
He or she may assess your risk for falling and be able to recommend some things to do to reduce your chance of falling. Exercises can help you improve your balance and strengthen your muscles— which can help prevent falls— at any age.
28 Difficult but Necessary Conversations