For many seniors, it may not be necessary for them to give up driving completely. Being able to drive when you want and where you want is an important part of independence, especially for those who live in communities where walking or public transportation aren’t viable options. Driving a vehicle offers the ability to get to places that are farther away and access parts of their community that wouldn’t be possible without some form of transportation.
And while driving is a wonderful benefit that most people have, it isn’t something that should be taken lightly. When your senior gets behind the wheel, she is not only in charge of her own safety, but in the safety of all of those out on the roads with her. From children crossing at a corner to a busload of commuters to a giant semi truck hauling its goods to a local store, your loved one needs to navigate them all safely.
Six Signs that Driving is Becoming More Difficult for Your Elderly Loved One
While she may not come out and directly say it, driving may be reaching a point where your loved one is not always comfortable while navigating the roads, but she just hasn’t said that yet. Here are some more signs that you can watch and listen for when talking to your loved one to see if you need to talk to her about restricting her driving.
- She complains that other drivers are more rude nowadays and are always honking at her. While some other drivers may be excessively aggressive, if she’s getting honked at a lot, she may be doing something wrong on the road.
- She seems nervous or stressed when she knows she needs to drive. Look for displays of anxiety when she knows she needs to drive. Maybe it’s specific weather she’s frightened to drive in, or when it gets dark.
- She’s easily distracted when driving. If you’re riding along with her, is her attention pulled to other areas besides the road in front of her?
- Does she squint or strain to read the signs around her? Does she misidentify objects on the road or walkways as she drives, reacting inappropriately?
- Does her car have some new scrapes or dents that weren’t there? Look for damage on the bumpers and sides, indicating her depth perception may be off.
- She’s getting lost on routine routes.
How to Help Your Loved One When Driving Is Difficult
Your loved one may need to give up driving altogether, or she just may need to reduce when she drives. For many seniors, it starts with avoiding driving at night or in inclement weather. She might also want to avoid driving during rush hour when the roads are more chaotic.
Arranging for home care assistance to help with driving can be one way to keep your loved one from behind the wheel when she’s not comfortable driving. A home care assistance provider can bring her to and from appointments when the weather is a bit rough or the sun is setting. A home care assistance provider can also help with trips to new places where your loved one isn’t comfortable driving. Having a home care assistance provider help with driving can eliminate the need to completely restrict driving while providing safe transportation when needed.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Cherokee County, KS, please contact the caring staff at Adelmo Family Care today at (417) 206-4576
Adelmo Family Care provides exceptional home and facility care for seniors, disabled adults, and their families in Joplin, Webb City, Carthage, Duquesne, Neosho, Carl Junction, Lamar, Newton County, MO, Jasper County, MO, Pittsburg, KS, Riverton, KS, Crawford County, KS, Cherokee County, KS, and surrounding areas.
To provide the safest and most qualified caregivers, John felt it was important to properly screen and train caregivers before they were invited into the homes of the families being care for.No caregiver is introduced to a client before being taught the Adelmo Standard.
Adelmo is German for Noble Protector, a name that projects what Adelmo Family Care strives to be. It is our goal to protect our elderly from having to move somewhere they do not want to go, while remaining safe, secure and independent.
Care is our Product and Independence is our Goal.We are there for you when you need to have some help to continue to live independently, at your direction, in your home. We will work with you to get you as fit as possible so you may become completely independent once again, if at all possible.
We provide compassionate care, a watchful eye and a helping hand to our clients and their families.
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Adelmo Family Care is a member of the Home Care Association of America, The Senior’s Choice, The Webb City Chamber of Commerce, The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and several local senior committees.
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