The body and the mind go through changes as people age. Driving abilities may differ as individuals get older. Driving requires stable physical condition and keenness of perception. Individuals in their senior years may experience physical and mental changes that can affect ability to drive.

It is important for seniors to understand and accept that their bodies are subject to limitations. There are age-related conditions associated with sense of sight, hearing, and other senses that can affect driving skills. Awareness and acceptance can help seniors become more cautious when driving while ignorance or denial can lead to irresponsible and reckless behavior on the road.

Here are some physical and mental changes that older individuals should mindful of.

• Vision may deteriorate because of aging. As people age, it may become challenging to keep track of multiple things such as road signs, signals, markings, traffic lights, and pedestrian. Driving at night may also become more difficult.

• Vision problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration may cause visual problems such as blurry or hazy vision and reduced sense of sight. Complications in vision may make it difficult for seniors to see other cars and pedestrians on the road.

• Hearing may also decline. Poor hearing due to age may make it difficult for seniors to hear things in a noisy environment. Inability to detect high-pitched sounds that indicate some kind of warning such as ambulance sirens or railroad warnings can put people at risk.

• It is important for drivers to be able to apply defensive driving techniques on the road to avoid dangerous situations. Seniors may lack alertness and quick response necessary in defensive driving. Seniors may have slower reaction time. They may also have poorer coordination and flexibility.

• Muscles weaken because of age. Older adults may experience slower motor reflexes. Health conditions such as arthritis can make basic maneuvering hard.

• Pain in the neck can hinder seniors from looking over their shoulders when changing lanes or looking at opposite directions to check for other vehicles or pedestrians.

• Pain in the knees, ankles, leg, and feet may make it hard for individuals to move their feet and legs. Difficulty pressing on the gas or brake may cause road accidents.

• Weakness and pain in the arms and hands can make it difficult to move the steering wheel when making a turn or changing lanes.

Not all seniors are automatically deprived of driving privileges. Some older adults may still drive provided that they understand their limitations and learn to take charge of their health. Eating a healthy and balanced diet, engaging in proper exercise and getting enough sleep can promote better health. Regular check-ups are very important in determining the capability of seniors to drive. Older individuals should have their vision and hearing checked annually. Doctors can recommend if individuals are fit to drive or not. Take note that certain medications can interfere with driving. For instance, some drugs can cause drowsiness. Physicians can advise seniors about the effects of their ailments and corresponding medications on their driving abilities.

Author Bio:

This article is written by Joseph Joffo on behalf of www.econocarental.com, this is having topics on senior drivers, older drivers, should elderly people be allowed to drive and many more. View more information on elderly people driving on the web right now!

The search for housing can be tedious and frustrating. In addition to the hundreds of available properties, one has to also be aware of fraudulent “landlords” whose sole purpose is to scam and steal. These “sellers” claim that they are unavailable to show the house and that they will mail the keys once they have received a deposit. However, once they receive the payment, they disappear and leave the prospective tenant empty handed.

There are many possibilities for various scams. For example, an owner with a foreclosed house may put up their property for rent and pretend that the house is in good standing. As soon as the tenant is all moved in, they will disappear with the money. Weeks or months later, the new houseguests are without a home and money when they find out that their new residency is foreclosed. Other frauds may break into a house and show it to potential renters as their own. Once the money exchange is complete, the fraud disappears without a trace.

A young woman, Sheila, recently reported to the Los Angeles Times that she was looking at a couple of homes in Atwater Village after seeing ads in Craigslist. The “owner” told her the rear door was open, that he couldn’t meet with her and that she should inspect the home. She liked what she saw and agreed to pay six months in advance for a lower rent plus a security deposit. She left a money order and her application at the house only to find later that the so-called “owner” didn’t own the home.

The “owner” set up a “rent to own” contract with Chet whereby he could live in the home with his family, make high rental payments and end up owning the home. Nine months in, the “owner” had disappeared and the bank had foreclosed on the property, forcing Chet and his family out.

There are many proactive steps to be taken in order to stop these fraudulent acts. One of the most efficient tools to utilize is a website titled “CheckYourLandlord.com”. This website is inexpensive and full of detailed information regarding landlords, their history, and available properties. However, there are many “free” precautions that can be taken in order to avoid fraud.

The easiest way to avoid scams is to ask for identification. If someone refuses to flash their driver’s license or identification, their credibility is minimal. Some people worry about offending their seller, but this is a routine procedure in high-end business transactions.

Once the seller’s identification is cleared, it is necessary to ensure that they are the correct owner and that the property is not in foreclosure. This information can be found online on the county’s website. The assessor’s office or recorder of deeds will have the correct information on the owner and any “lis pendens” against the property.

The next step is to ensure that the owner is not stuck in any financial trouble. There are many facets to check. There may be unpaid dues filed by the homeowners association or a government jurisdiction from unpaid property taxes. If previous tenants filed any civil cases or criminal actions against the owner, this is evidence that the owner is not in reliable financial standing.

Finally, check to see if there is a lien against another property with the same owner. This could indicate that the owner is struggling financially and may be trying to con money. If this information is not found online, any county courthouse will have records of property listings and owners.

“Fixer-Upper” homes are a great opportunity for potential homeowners to sink their teeth into a deal. Fixer-Uppers are houses set at a cheap price, but they need a lot of internal work. Unfortunately, the new homeowners have to pay for the remodeling out-of-pocket because the loan does not cover renovations. Therefore, if a new buyer does not have extra cash, they need to apply for loans with high interest rates in order to make their home livable. Luckily for them, the new FHA 203(k) program was created to help.

The federal government developed the FHA 203(k) loan in order to fund buyers with a loan that will help them purchase a fixer-upper and receive funding for repairs. For example, a run down house is on the market for 450K. The whole house needs a make over with new paint, carpet, and some wall repair work. A FHA 203(k) lender will investigate the home and determine that 100K is required for the repairs and will grant a loan for 550K. Once the loan is issued, the government allows a contingency reserve of 20% that will grant you more money if the repair fee exceeds the initial estimated cost. They also permit approximately 6 months worth of mortgage payments so that the buyer can live in a separate location while remodeling their home.

In older Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods that run the gamut from small, inexpensive turn of the century cottages to fancy, expensive newer and midcentury homes, buyers are snatching up these loans.

Not all types of repairs are approved by the FHA 203k mortgage loans. There are two different types of loans. The basic 203(k) exists for properties that only need structural repairs like a new room or roof. The second, streamlined 203(k), is assigned when houses need non-structural repairs like painting. These are the repairs covered by the 203(k): decks, remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, new siding, flooring, plumbing, patios, another story on the house, and central air and heating. A “luxury” improvement like adding a pool or basketball court will not be covered in the 203(k).

The basic and streamlined versions of the 203(k) each have their own spending limit. The FHA comes up with two numbers: 1) the cost of the property plus estimated repairs and 2) 110 percent of the property value once the repairs are complete. The FHA will grant the buyer the lesser of these two numbers. The benefit of streamlined loans allows you the purchase price of the home plus a maximum amount of 35K.

So popular and important is this program that it has been credited for helping regenerate older neighborhoods like Eagle Rock and neighboring Highland Park. So many homes in Highland Park have received facelifts that the entire area is going through a gentrification process that is raising home values.

These loans are beneficial to buyers because they allow funding for someone to buy a home and make repairs. The down payment is a minimal price and can be given by a family member, employer, or organization. Most 203(k) loans have low interest rates and discount points, however, these do vary depending on the lender. Unfortunately, not all properties qualify. In addition to that, there is a limit on funding and the application process for the loan is tedious. However, this loan is a great opportunity for people to make their dream homes come true.