Maintaining safe driving habits is a big goal for seniors who want to age in place for as long as possible. Staying both independent and mobile involves also keeping the safety of others in mind, especially on the road. Seniors who want to keep driving might benefit from home care assistance services, especially during times when continuing to drive on their own is not the safest answer for them.
Get Frequent Vision Checks
If seniors aren’t able to see well, that’s going to have a huge impact on their ability to keep driving. Seniors should make sure they’re seeing their eye doctors as often as recommended to monitor changes in their vision. These checkups also help seniors to make sure they continue to meet the vision requirements for safe driving.
Talk about Driving with Medical Professionals
As much as seniors might want to avoid the conversation, it’s vital that they talk to their doctors about whether continuing to drive is safe for them to do. Addressing the topic head-on is important because seniors need to be really clear about how their health conditions impact their ability to be safe drivers. If there are medical reasons to limit driving, seniors need to understand what those are so they can put proper alternatives in place, like letting senior care providers do the driving.
Drive During the Day and Choose Familiar Routes
A compromise might be in order here, as well. If seniors are experiencing vision or health changes that make driving at night a bad idea, then driving during the day only might be a good idea. This ensures that seniors are able to keep driving when it’s safe for them to do so, but that they’re not being hindered in any way.
Sticking to known, familiar routes can ease stress for family caregivers and for seniors, too. When family caregivers know that seniors are going to stick to specific routes that they’re extremely comfortable with and only drive during the day, they may feel less reluctant for seniors to keep driving. Familiar routes require less cognitive effort, which can let seniors focus on being as safe as possible behind the wheel.
Know When to Let Someone Else, Like Home Care Assistance Aides, Drive
The big compromise that seniors need to make is knowing when to let someone else drive. Letting home care assistance aides take the wheel when it’s wise to do so doesn’t mean that seniors can never drive again. In fact, it can help boost confidence and self-esteem for seniors to drive when they’re most comfortable doing so. This prioritizes safety and allows seniors to be as mobile as they need and want to be while avoiding potential pitfalls.
Safe driving practices are absolutely crucial for aging adults to adopt. Seniors can still be independent and have help from home care assistance to get where they need to go. Embracing safe driving habits and knowing that they can still go anywhere when they need to helps seniors to be smart about their ability to keep driving.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Assistance Services in Guilford MD please contact the caring staff at Vital Sign Home Care today. (410) 814-0258
A Trusted Skilled Medical and Non-Medical senior home care provider in Annapolis, Arnold, Severn, Guilford, Towson, Brooklandville, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia MD, and surrounding areas.
Venus had a stroke in 2018, she had no movement on the right side of her body and was unable to speak. Venus has made great progress since then and shows up everyday doing her best. She takes pride in overcoming obstacles and never giving up, which has allowed her to obtain a level of success in healthcare.
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