What Are Your Options with a Senior Who Is Still Driving?

By Hedi Huebler | November 7, 2018 |

Senior Care in Parma OH: What Are Your Options with a Senior Who Is Still Driving?

If your aging family member is still driving, you have a variety of options depending on the situation. You might have a mix of these three scenarios going on, but no matter what, you need to have a backup plan for her.

Your Senior Knows When it’s Time to Stop

Ideally, you’re in a situation in which your elderly family member knows when it’s time for her to either stop driving altogether or to only drive under certain conditions. This might be a wise decision for her from a safety standpoint, of course, but it can also benefit her financially. The money that she isn’t spending on car maintenance, gas, and insurance can go toward other expenses.

You Need to Have a Talk

A step down from the ideal scenario is one in which you and your elderly family member need to sit down and have a serious talk. This might mean that you need to assess how her medications are affecting her and whether her health is playing a part in her ability to drive. This talk might help you to narrow down certain parameters for your senior, such as restricting her driving to good weather and daylight hours, for instance.

The Worst Scenario

The absolute worst option might be that your elderly family member gets into an accident or has her driver’s license taken away. This can be devastating for her, especially if she’s been resisting the idea of no longer driving. Being forced by outside circumstances to quit driving can really damage your elderly family member’s self-confidence and she may feel as if everyone around her is out to get her or trying to restrict her movements. It might take some time to get through to her.

Make Sure You Provide Alternatives

Whichever situation you find yourself dealing with in regards to your senior’s driving, make sure that you offer her alternatives to getting behind the wheel herself. Senior care providers are an excellent choice because they understand your aging adult’s unique needs and they can offer companionship as well as a driver. Once your senior understands that she’s not being forced to stay at home, she may be much more receptive to the idea of no longer driving.

If you and your elderly family member can’t agree at all about her driving, you might want to consider having a third party do a driving assessment with her. This can give you an objective idea of what driving is like for her now and possibly in the near future.

If you are considering senior care in Parma, OH, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Four Seasons Home Care today: (440) 716-9100.

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Hedi Huebler

Owner at Four Seasons Home Care

My name is Hedi Huebler.I’m the owner of Four Seasons Home Care, a privately owned local non-medical home care business.After caring for my parents in their home, my husband, a Registered Nurse, and I, realized how important it was for my parents to remain independent and in their home.As my parents’ health declined, we moved them in with our family.Due to that experience, we started Four Seasons Home Care.

We presently serve Cuyahoga and Lorain County.Our services include Companionship Services, Home Care Services, Personal Care Services and Transportation Services.We understand how situations change and the services are designed to reflect those changes and allow flexibility with those needs.

We are licensed, bonded, insured and all caregivers are carefully selected, background checked in all 50 states, drug tested and receive extensive training to provide exceptional service.They also complete a multi-phase training program with on-going educational seminars that keep the caregivers up to date on all facets of Home Care.

We offer free in-home consultations and complimentary caregiver introductions are provided.If you have any questions, please call me at your convenience and thank you for your consideration.