Elderly: More Prudent Drivers Than Thought
Posted on: Monday, 2 July 2007, 09:22 CDT
Society's perception of older drivers tends to be negative, but surveys say 80 percent of the elderly show prudent driving behavior, says an Irish study.
Desmond O'Neill and colleagues at the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, in Dublin, Ireland, say that the risk of crashes in patients with dementia is acceptably low for up to three years after diagnosis, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
In addition, stopping driving can limit access to family, friends and services. Social isolation is an independent risk factor for entry into a nursing home, according to O'Neill.
The study authors suggest that the main thrust of future measures to protect public safety should focus on opportunistic screening of high risk populations, such as those attending specialist memory clinics, and the refinement of effective pathways for clinicians and the licensing agency to manage mobility and safety.
Source: United Press International
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