Tips for a tough talk

By RODNEY THRASH
Published November 29, 2005

---

The challenge for seniors, said Susan Frank, supervisor of the Gulfport Senior Center, is "accepting the fact that they've lost that independence (and) something that they took for granted for so long: the ability to be so mobile."

So how do you begin to talk to someone about giving up that independence?

Fran Carlin Rogers, an Orlando consultant and national expert on older drivers, offers these tips for spouses, children, doctors and other caregivers.

- Bring up the subject sooner rather than later so you're not doing it at a crisis.

- Ride with the driver to see if she or he has problems.

- Help the person explore other ways to get around town.

- Be sensitive to the importance of driving.

Carlin Rogers also recommended the following resources:

- We Need to Talk: Family Conversations with Older Drivers, a free, 23-page booklet that provides conversation starters and sample dialogue. The booklet is available at www.thehartford.com/talkwitholderdrivers/brochure/brochure.htm.

- At the Crossroads: A Guide to Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia & Driving includes an agreement, signed by the senior driver, that gives a designated caregiver power to confiscate the driver's keys and take other precautions to ensure his or her safety. The online guide is available at www.thehartford.com/alzheimers