Some seniors feel a mandatory medical assessment in order to continue driving is unnecessary. On Tuesday, an advocacy group met the with Alberta’s transportation minister, Wayne Drysdale, to express their concerns.
“Seniors are being targeted,” said Ruth Adria of the Elder Advocates of Alberta Society.
Alberta Transportation makes the assessment mandatory at the age of 75 based on research that shows some medical conditions or cognitive challenges are more common at those ages.
Szarko also makes the point that people of all ages should undergo a medical assessment if there is a need for it.
“It’s not about age, the emphasis is really around medical condition. A thirty year old could have a stroke. That’s where AMA is coming from, we like to not even focus on age, we like to focus on medical condition.”
And although some seniors find the procedure discriminatory and ageist, the majority of drivers over the age of 75 are more than happy to go through the process.
“They seem to be fine,” said Alaina Wells, manager at the Lethbridge Vehicle License and Registry. “Or if they do have some kind of medical issue, they’re usually already aware of it and they’ve already discussed with their doctor that it could be an issue.”
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