How Can You Help Your Aging Adult See That Driving May No Longer Be Safe?

By Andy Niska | September 14, 2017 |

Driving is a sticky subject to address with your elderly family member. She may feel that she’s still quite safe to drive while you have a different point of view altogether. Finding a compromise in the middle may be what it takes to get you both on the same page.

Home Care in Spokane South Hill WA: Driving Safety

Talk to Her Doctor.

If the problems are severe, talk to your senior’s doctor first. He can help her to see issues that she may be ignoring or seeing as smaller than they are. Often, your elderly family member will be more willing to listen to her doctor than to you. This is especially important if your elderly family member’s memory is giving her issues.

Get an Independent Driving Evaluation.

Having a neutral third party evaluate your aging adult’s driving skills can be powerful for both of you. You may find that you’re right about quite a bit of what you’re seeing that scares you. On the other hand, your elderly family member’s driving might not be quite as bad as you’ve feared. This gives you an objective idea of what you’re really dealing with in terms of your aging adult out on the road.

Ask Other Family Members to Chime In.

If other family members have expressed some concerns about your elderly family member’s driving, see if they’re willing to speak up. They may be able to share things in a way that you haven’t been able to just yet. Also, sometimes having more than one person saying similar things can be enough to have your aging family member take a second look at her driving for herself.

Sign Her up for a Defensive Driving Course.

Is your elderly family member still determined to drive? Consider signing her up for a defensive driving course. These types of courses typically offer a discount on car insurance, so that’s an added bonus. The course will teach your aging adult specific techniques she can use in order to be safer out on the road.

Help your elderly family member to feel better about not driving by hiring home care providers to drive for her. She won’t be trapped at home and you’ll know that she’s safe when she’s out and about.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Spokane South Hill, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.