Choosing the Right Car for You

The major losses that impact our ability to live in our homes include vision, hearing, dexterity, range of motion and balance. Today we will focus on vision.

In my practice as an Occupational Therapist who provides home care I must get in and out of the car many times a day. I find it much easier with my little SUV than my husband’s lower to the ground sedan. After driving various SUVs for many years I don’t think I could ever go back to a regular car. The American Automobile Association (AAA) notes that 90% of motorists age 65 and older suffer from a variety of health issues that may adversely affect their driving. According to AAA’s CEO Robert Darbelnet “The good news is that specific smart features on today’s cars can help older drivers deal with these conditions.”

I certainly don’t need to wait until I am 65 to consider a car that will help me to drive better, safer and with the added perk of increased comfort. No matter what our age or condition of our body, ease in car entry and exit should be one of the first things we look for when looking for a new ride. Consider that coupes are built lower to the ground, while trucks and large SUVs force us to climb up to get in.

Seats come in all shapes and sizes and can impact hip and knee problems. Treat yourself to power seats that at the least move up and down and forward and back with a lumbar support that your low back will thank you for. Heated seats are great for back and joint pain relief and leather seats are easier to slide in and out of than cloth. The height of the seat should not require too much bending or climbing. The seat placement should be between the mid-thigh and lower buttocks when standing next to the car.

People who have vision problems can find vehicles that have large, easy to read dashboard instrument panels with bright contrasting text. Some cars have digital speedometers that can be spotted and processed at a glance. Also look for glare–reducing mirrors. If you have stiffness in the upper body and difficulty looking over your shoulder to back up or merge into traffic, look for vehicles with a large rear window for better visibility, wide-angle mirrors that can minimize blind spots and a back-up camera. Also, for comfort and fit, consider vehicles that have a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and adjustable seatbelts.

If your hands are arthritic four-door vehicles are recommended because the doors are smaller, lighter and easier to open and close than two-door models. Keyless entry and push button ignitions help alleviate painful gripping and turning problems. Thick steering wheels are easier to grip and if you can get the heated steering wheel option it will be like a mini-therapy treatment every time you drive.

Get organized and consider a comfy and safe car for you or those you care for:

-Go to seniordriving.AAA.com/smartfeature. It’s a great tool that directs you to list your physical limitations and results in producing a list of potential cars to consider based on the features you require.

-After combing lists from AAA, Kiplinger’s, Consumer Reports and Forbes, some examples of “best cars for seniors” included (but totally were not limited to ) Nissan Altima, Subaru Outback, Toyota Avalon and Camry, Lexus RX , Chrysler 300, Mercedes-Benz E class, Ford Taurus and Honda Odyssey and Accord and the Infiniti M.