Why Senior Citizens Can Benefit From Being Behind the Wheel

“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.” – E.B. White

Encouraging the older generation to get into a car and go for a drive may be the last thing you’d think would be good advice. We often chalk up that loss of privilege to failing eyesight or mental health, and before you know it, grandpa no longer is allowed access to the keys. However…

Studies have shown that senior citizens can actually benefit from driving around.

Aside from the fact that a drive around town or through the countryside simply allows you time to reflect, it may also prevent mental illness.

New research may prove that senior citizens can avoid everything from decreased health to even dementia, all because they’re firing up those neurons regularly. Even just a quick trip to the grocery store can do wonders for the brain.

More importantly, the ability to drive is a powerful force. Not only does it nourish your cognitive awareness, it also gives you a feeling of self-control—you’re more empowered by the personal freedom and independence. It’s a remarkable feeling.

Driving also allows for more flexibility. Can grandpa make it to the grandkids’ graduation? Of course, he can! He’s got a car. And he doesn’t have to inconveniently plan around a bus schedule or wait for other family members to pick him up.

This is especially the case for certain areas with no real good public transportation. What can a senior citizen do? Not much. But having a car, and the freedom to drive it, will give them a nice boost in their self-esteem and probably a much more active social life—all positive things for their overall health.

But what about the loss of vision that often comes with aging? Perhaps some eyesight correction could make it possible for that 80-year-old to still step into a hot ride and get a good drive in for the sake of the brain? What do you think?

When You Have to Give Up the Keys

Sometimes it’s a necessity: vision worsens, your memory and judgment begins to falter—you then have no choice but to stop driving.

The problem is all of this can actually speed up the entire decline. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle. Depression hits. Social isolation hits even harder. The decrease in physical activity makes all sorts of health conditions even worse. The studies even showed that depression was twice as likely to impact older adults. The data from the study had researchers also hypothesizing that older adults giving up the car keys would be more likely to die within the next three to five years!

Those are some pretty heavy statistics in favor of senior citizens continuing to drive.

The big issue is should those senior citizens keep driving when they know it’s likely risky? How do we balance road safety against the potential benefits for older people? Perhaps there are some alternatives, such as regular dancing classes, daily walks, swimming or yoga classes. But until that’s absolutely necessary, we shouldn’t be so quick to take the keys away.

Pierre Roustan is an author, adventurer, father, philosopher, philanthropist, athlete, gamer, U.S. chess champion, health nut, activist, and advocate for humanity, living in a quiet home with his wife, four daughters and one son in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s trekked through tundras, waded through swamps, wandered through deserts, swam in the Great Barrier Reef, explored a shipwreck, walked a runway, sat in prison, been in a mental hospital, adored and hated others, lost and gained a lot, fought wars in a courtroom, lost wars in his heart, and held loved ones in his arms as they breathed their last breath. He’s braved storms of all kinds and has plenty more life to live—and he’s ready to write all about it.