Yielding to age: when the elderly can no longer drive

Loss of ability to drive because of declining health is a symbolic and concrete representation that the person is no longer capable of performing as he or she once did. Grieving the loss of the ability to drive is complex in that driving is associated with many interactions, such as freedom, esteem, identity, and control. Families may be reluctant to address the ability to drive safely because of fear of confrontation and their own grieving at the loss it symbolizes. Resolution of the loss of the ability to drive depends on the family's and individual's ability to work through the grieving process, concurrent losses, cognitive abilities, and the availability of resources.