Let’s start by discussing that just because your elderly loved one has reached a certain age, it’s an automatic certainty that they shouldn’t be driving anymore and need assistance like companion care at home. That’s simply not true. Many senior citizens continue to drive their entire lives and remain safe and courteous drivers, making the roads better for everyone.
But it’s also true that driving is a great responsibility and should be taken seriously. There aren’t too many activities that we do in which we have the possibility of not only injuring or killing ourselves when we do it incorrectly, but also possibly injuring or killing someone else.
That is why there are so many laws around using the roads, as well as enforcement officers patrolling and doing their best to put a stop to unsafe driving activities. This is also why companion care at home services offer transportation services for aging seniors.
Seven Occasions Your Elderly Loved One Should Not Get Behind the Wheel
Your senior might be finding that he doesn’t have to completely give up driving, but that there are times when it would be better if he didn’t drive. These times may vary for each person, but seven common situations in which some elderly individuals don’t like to drive and could use assistance from companion care at home providers include the following.
- Driving at night. Often, this is the first time of day that an older person no longer feels comfortable driving. The road can be more confusing at night, and for seniors with eye problems, it can become difficult to see well.
- Driving during inclement weather. While no one truly enjoys driving when the weather is frightful, for seniors, the extra stress and challenges of driving in bad weather are too much. Your senior may struggle to drive during heavy rain or snowstorms, when the roads are icy, or during high winds.
- Driving someplace new. Driving entails a lot of moving parts – both with the vehicle and with your loved one’s cognitive abilities. For some seniors, trying to follow a GPS to a new location becomes too difficult.
- Driving with too many distractions. Your elderly loved one may feel comfortable driving alone, but not so comfortable driving the grandkids around or having several friends in the vehicle, talking to them.
- Driving while under certain medications. Some medications can affect a person’s ability to drive safely by affecting their vision, slowing down their responses, or making them drowsy.
- Driving in a vehicle that no longer fits him. If your loved one used to drive a big truck or SUV, he might find he can’t navigate it as well as he used to and might just need a smaller vehicle. Because he simply doesn’t want to. If your senior ever says he doesn’t want to drive, do your best to accommodate his request.
Get Transportation Help For Your Senior
If your elderly loved one does have any of these instances in which he shouldn’t drive, whether temporary or permanent, consider helping him maintain his independence by helping him find other transportation options for when he can’t drive. A great resource for many seniors is an agency that provides companion care at home.
Companion care at home services can cover a wide range of services, including assisting with daytime transportation to and from appointments. Having a trusted companion care at home professional provide your loved one transportation to an unfamiliar clinic site or while he’s on medication that makes him sleepy is a great way to make sure your loved one gets where he needs to be safely.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Companion Care at Home in Durham, NC, please contact the caring staff at Affordable Family Care.
Serving Raleigh, Greensboro, and the surrounding areas in North Carolina. Call today at (919) 676-1070
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