Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: Aiding Elderly Drivers

Jan. 27, 2010— -- Driving is a milestone of freedom in our teen years, but it can become a safety concern when we're older.

In the first installment of "Good Morning America's" series on tackling tough topics with aging parents called "Mom and Dad, We Need To Talk," "GMA" family and life contributor Lee Woodruff looks at the complicated issue of elder driving.

When is it time to ask for your parent's car keys? And how do you do it?

Woodruff has recently faced this question in her own family and has spoken extensively with the AARP on the best ways to handle it. She says you need the support of your entire family and should always approach the topic with a great deal of understanding. In Woodruff's case, her family spoke to her father before his driving became an issue, which is one of the top recommendations of the AARP.

Experts at the AARP say that the first step is changing the way we talk about the issue. You shouldn't tell your parents, "It's time to give up the keys" or talk about "taking" the keys away. Instead, use the phrase "hanging up the keys." It's a subtle difference, but "hanging up" makes it their choice; "taking away" makes it someone else's.

Many people don't spend a lot of time in the passenger seat while their aging parents drive, which is the best way to gauge their competency. Other clues include if your parents often talk about "close calls" or getting lost, or if you notice dents or dings on their car.

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