Your Older Parent and Driving
When Should You Take Away the Keys?
on the side of the road, or anything else that isn’t the road, you have yourself a huge red flag.
For your parents, driving likely provides a huge connection to the outside world. Hopping in the car to do grocery shopping or to visit grandkids offers independence and freedom that people don’t want to surrender. But when is it time to take away the keys for an older adult’s safety and the safety of others? Due to age or health concerns, there may come a time when older adults are unable to safely operate a vehicle. There are a few signs you should be aware of.
Poor Eyesight
Have you noticed that your parent has trouble seeing, either up close or at a distance? This is a obvious indicator that their eyesight needs to be checked, and unless the problem is fixed, it may be time to hang up the keys for good.
Delayed Responses
Driving Mistakes
If your parent seems to be slower to respond to stimuli and unexpected events, this can be an early sign of how they may respond on the road when unexpected situations arise and they need to make a quick lane change or slam on the brakes.
If your mother or father begins hitting curbs, backing into things, swerving in and out of lanes, or just generally practicing poor driving, it is time to gently talk with them about your concerns and how they might need to stop driving before someone gets hurt. This may not be an easy conversation to have with your parent, but it is important to make sure that they are no longer driving if or when the symptoms arise. It is vital that drivers are competent and that they ensure the safety of everyone who is on the road.
Distracted Driving
With age, multitasking gets more difficult. If you notice that your mother or father seems too focused on car features, passengers, things
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EASY PEACH COBBLER MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
Tip No. 4: Reach out to role models. Teens are not too young to start networking. Whether yours wants to be a welder, a professor, or a geologist, there are likely people in their field whom they admire. If your kid seems stuck in a rut, suggest they reach out to their idols or join a group of other young people with similar interests. On the off chance they hear back from a giant in their field, they’ll make a priceless connection, and their peers may soon become their colleagues. Tip No. 5: Develop a self-marketing strategy. According to the Student Conservation Association, 92% of kids who take a gap year do it in order to “gain life experiences and grow personally.” That personal growth can be valuable. If your teen knows their strengths, weaknesses, and how to represent themselves well, they will have a leg up in a job or fellowship interview. Before your kid goes back to school, you can sit down together and discuss how they’ll talk about their gap year and market what they’ve learned. Your teen doesn’t have to tackle all of these tips at once, but if they follow even one of them well, when they do head back to school, they’ll be wiser, more well-rounded, and better prepared for the next challenge.
Inspired by MyRecipes.com
Celebrate the end of summer — and peach season — with this simple and tasty peach cobbler!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup milk • 4 cups peaches (fresh is best!) • 1 tbsp lemon juice • Ground cinnamon or nutmeg to taste
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter • 1 cup flour • 2 cups sugar, divided • 1 tbsp baking powder • Dash of salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, add butter and place in oven. Remove when melted. 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1 cup of sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then pour in milk and stir until the mixture is smooth. 3. Pour the batter over the melted butter, but don’t stir! 4. In a pot, bring peaches, lemon juice, and remaining sugar to a boil. Stir constantly. 5. Pour peaches over batter, but once again, don’t stir! 6. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, then bake at 375 F for 45 minutes.
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