How to stay independent after giving up your driver’s licence

Written by Stephen Corby for Australian Seniors

One of the peculiarities of ageing, which can start as young as 40, is that we start to shrink, potentially losing multiple centimetres from up to age 70, at which point the growing down can speed up. Among the causes is spinal compression, as the discs between our vertebrae flatten, and the process can be even more pronounced for women.  

But what can be equally galling for people as they age is watching the shrinkage of the worlds they inhabit, as the gradual loss of independence chips away at the freedoms once taken for granted. One of the most consequential examples can be losing the ability to drive. 

As much as we might hate to admit it, even people who were once great drivers can become a danger on the roads. University of NSW dementia expert and psychologist Professor Kaarin Anstey says the problem is that people tend to overestimate their driving ability. “We don’t really know why, but I think it may be because you don’t get any feedback unless you have a crash.” 

Professor Anstey points out that while we all know that the drivers who have the most crashes are young – aged under 25 – the other big spike is in older drivers. “Particularly those in their 80s and over, but it does start to creep up in the 70s.”

Despite the risks, research by Roy Morgan shows that more older Australians than ever are still on the road, with more than 70% of people over the age of 80 still driving. 

Transport options after giving up driving

Eileen Eggersdorf, from Logan near Brisbane, gave up driving 10 years ago, when she was 85, and has been relying on TransitCare, a not-for-profit service based in Queensland, ever since. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but I just knew it was time to stop,” she recalls. 

TransitCare runs a fleet of vehicles to provide door-to-door transport for people in local communities who are unable to get out and about and there are dozens of similar services around the country. 

Once you take away the option of driving for someone in their 80s or 90s, getting around becomes a challenge, and leaning on friends and relatives for lifts everywhere wasn’t an option for 95-year-old Eileen. 

“Not being able to drive could have been a real problem but when we couldn’t do it anymore, we just started taking bus trips with TransitCare and it’s been amazing. And they don’t just take me to the shops, they organise all kinds of things for us, and take us there and back. There’s something on every day of the week. I’d be lost without it. It truly is the most wonderful service, and it’s very social and you make friends. I love it,” Eileen says.

Having a purpose and making good lifestyle choices

Lack of transport or social activities can contribute to a loss of independence, but it’s not the only cause. While it’s tempting to think that ageing is just something that happens to us, it’s very much a path that we can define for ourselves, according to Hilary O’Connell, an occupational therapist and ambassador for LiveUp, a free, national platform designed to empower older people through healthy ageing. 

“It’s common that as we get older, more things start to get done for us,” Hilary says. “This may come from a place of love and good intentions, but the reality is that the less we do and the less we participate, the less we are able to do, which contributes to a loss of independence. 

“While tired stereotypes about ageing and older people have created a culture of dependence, nearly everyone wants to continue looking after themselves while living at home,” she says. “The truth is that only around 25% of how we age is down to genetics, and anything up to 75% can be down to our lifestyle choices.”

In her experience, Hilary says older Australians’ main concerns about ageing are losing independence, deteriorating health and a loss of social connections. 

“At an individual level, healthy ageing is about continuing to play with the grandkids, keeping the garden looking great, going for walks with friends, volunteering or starting a new hobby,” she adds. “It’s about making sure we continue to have a sense of purpose as we age.”

Physical and mental activity to stay independent

A hugely important factor is exercise and staying mobile because, as Professor Anstey points out, the effects are protective both physically and mentally. “I like to draw on one study that evaluated the benefits of following national guidelines for physical activity [150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous activity for adults aged up to 64]. That paper showed that people who met the national guidelines had a 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease over a five-year follow-up period.” 

Hilary says she’s often asked by people with older parents what they should do to help their loved ones, and she says the best thing is to encourage them to keep having a go at things. “Particularly new things; putting things in place to continually challenge our bodies and our brains, whether they be physically or mentally challenging, they all help to maintain wellbeing and can really make a difference,” she says.

Professor Anstey is also a big fan of getting seniors to activate their brains as well as their bodies. “Older people need cognitive engagement, social engagement and physical activity, and there are some things you can do – like dance classes – which incorporate all three,” she says. “Mental activity is important, but it is also important to do things that you enjoy, and if possible, combine these with socialising.”

Finally, what does Professor Anstey think has the greatest single impact on someone losing their independence as they age? She says it’s not losing your driver’s licence. 

“I think it would have to be physical mobility, due to fractures from falls, which then lead to periods of immobility and then people lose strength and fitness, and that’s why it’s so important to stay healthy, so you can avoid those situations,” she expands.

Where to get support

There are many organisations where support can be found, including (but not limited to) the following four:

• OPAN can assist people who are having difficulty accessing transport as part of their Commonwealth Home Support or Home Care Package. Go to their website or call 1800 700 600
• LiveUp is a free service funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care offering impartial healthy ageing information. Go to their website or call 1800 951 971
• The Older Driver Decision Aid is a free resource developed in partnership with older drivers, academics and health professionals that considers how to stay driving safely in the senior years. Find it here 
• The Australian government’s Office of Road Safety compiles a list of licence rules for older drivers by each state and territory. Go to the Office of Road Safety