August 22, 2019

When is it time for seniors to hand over the car keys?

By Karl Oestreich

HealthDay
by Robert Preidt

Driving is a source of independence for many seniors, so determining when they should hang up the keys requires careful consideration, an expert says. "Driving retirement is a normal part of aging, and should be carefully considered and discussed openly," said Dr. Ericka Tung, an internist and geriatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Primary care providers are uniquely poised to counsel patients about driving safety because they understand their patients' health conditions, capacities, challenges and goals," Tung said in a clinic news release. She is lead author of a paper in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings that examines the issue.

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Additional coverage: Houston Chronicle, Medical Xpress

Context: With more senior drivers on the road than in years past, the importance of assessing driver fitness has increased. In the latest issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers look at this topic along with tools that clinicians can use to determine if patients are able to safely operate a vehicle.

"Driving retirement is a normal part of aging, and should be carefully considered and discussed openly," says Ericka Tung, M.D., a Mayo Clinic internist and geriatrician, and lead study author. "Primary care providers are uniquely poised to counsel patients about driving safety because they understand their patients' health conditions, capacities, challenges and goals."

You can read more about the study on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Emily Blahnik

Tags: Dr. Ericka Tung, HealthDay, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Seniors and driving, Uncategorized

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