So many seniors continue to drive for a long time after they maybe should not be doing so any longer. That can leave them unsafe on the road and endangers the people around them. If you’re worried about your senior continuing to drive, here are some tips to know and how elder care can help.
Sit Down and Have a Calm Talk about Driving and Your Senior
If either you or your senior are worked up about the topic of her continuing to drive, you need to postpone the conversation until you’re both calmer. The topic is a complicated one to begin with, but when emotions are already high, the conversation can easily go off the rails. Let your elderly family member know you’re concerned about her continuing to drive and why that is. But be prepared to listen, too.
Set up an Appointment with Your Senior’s Doctors
Your elderly family member’s doctors, especially her main physician and her eye doctor, are going to be a huge help in determining if she’s still safe to drive. Make appointments with any applicable doctors and let them know what you and your senior are debating. If your elderly family member is medically cleared to continue driving, the situation might not be as dire as you fear.
Make Sure the Car Is in Peak Condition
Your senior’s car is a key part of this whole conversation, too. Make sure that the car is in good condition, with all services up to date. If there is anything about her car or driving that is making the task more difficult for your senior, you may be able to find solutions that help her to continue driving safely. Things like pedal extenders, additional mirrors, and brighter headlights can all be helpful.
Determine Where the Turning Point Is for No Longer Driving
At what point is your senior feeling unsafe to drive? It’s important to have that conversation, too. If she doesn’t feel comfortable driving at night, for instance, that’s reasonable. Elder care providers can take over driving during the times when your senior doesn’t feel comfortable. That could mean that on rainy days or when she’s going to be in heavy traffic, your senior defers to home care providers to do the driving.
Give Your Senior Choices
Ultimately what you’re looking for here is a set of compromises that keeps your senior safe but also allows her to be as independent as she can be. When your senior knows that choosing once to let elder care providers do the driving doesn’t mean she loses her license forever, that’s going to allow her to accept help when she needs it. It also helps to build trust on your end, because you know that your senior has options and isn’t going to take risks if she feels unsafe.
At some point your elderly family member may not be able to drive any longer and that can be a very sad time for her. There are a lot of feelings wrapped up in that one activity, and it is so much better for your senior when you acknowledge that gently.
Source
https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/older-driver-safety/index.html
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Englewood, CO, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Denver today. 303-756-9322
