Studies show that elderly drivers are more likely to get into car accidents than any other age group, and the biggest reasons are because of physical limitations that affect how they handle a car and how they react to traffic situations. It’s common for seniors to struggle with health issues, and when those cross into the realm of driving, they can endanger themselves and others.
If you are worried about your elderly loved one and their ability to drive, it’s time to do some serious evaluations and prepare yourself for the difficult conversation of letting them know it time to stop.
Elderly adults often struggle with physical health issues that limit their ability to drive. The most common challenges include poor hearing, poor vision, arthritis, weakened muscles, chronic pain, bad backs, slow reflexes, and diminishing cognitive ability. Just one of these conditions can interfere with their safe driving ability. This is not to say that all elderly adults are bad drivers.
However, there are millions of seniors out there that are dangerous on the road due to health issues. Family caregivers need to look at their own elderly loved one and base their decision on what they see.
Other red flags that family caregiver may observe in their aging loved ones about driving include:
- Ignoring basic traffic rules
- Inability to see or hear other vehicles
- Cutting off other cars
- Changing lanes without signals
- Running stop signs
- Frequent frustration and honking from other drivers
- Distracted driving by handling cell phones, glasses or the radio
- Forgetting to wear a seat belt
- Exercising poor judgment in traffic
- Bumping stationary objects like parking barriers
If family caregivers observe this and other problematic behavior when they ride with their aging relative, they can be certain that it is happening when they drive alone, too. It’s the right thing to do to have a talk with the elderly adult, discussing all the reasons why they shouldn’t drive.
One thing that may ease the pain of losing their driving privilege is for family caregivers to hire an elder care provider. These professional assistants can help aging adults with anything they need, from housekeeping and meal preparation to laundry and transportation. If the senior needs to go to the doctor, pharmacy, shopping or to an event, the elder care provider is ready to go.
Nobody wants to give up their independence and turning car keys over is a difficult thing to do. If elderly adults have an alternative form of transportation in the form of elder care providers, it may make things easier. Knowing these a reliable and dependable option for getting around may just make the difference between seniors hating the change and managing to get by with it.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Centennial, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
