Driving is a big deal for your senior. On one hand, it allows her to be really independent. But on the other, she might be at a point where driving is not completely safe for her.
She Doesn’t See Well Lately
Your senior’s vision is directly correlated to how safe she is behind the wheel. She needs to be able to see and react to obstacles and objects in her path. If she wears glasses or contact lenses, your elderly family member needs to keep up with whether her prescription is changing at all. Sometimes vision changes are so subtle that the first indication that there’s something different is when she goes in for an eye exam.
She’s Made Some Changes to Her Driving Habits
Everyone has certain habits around their driving. But if your senior is markedly changing hers, like getting nervous about driving during certain circumstances, like when it’s raining out, that can be a sign that something more is happening. She might not even notice that she’s making those choices, but they’re still impacting how she drives.
The Car Isn’t Looking So Good
Have you taken a look at the car itself? This one step, taken regularly, can help you to spot all sorts of issues much more quickly than you might expect. If you’re noticing scrapes, dents, dings, and other types of damage, this can tell you that your elderly family member might be having a lot of trouble that she isn’t telling you about.
Your Senior Is Mentioning or Hinting about Her Feelings Around Driving
It’s entirely possible that your senior is experiencing some new feelings around driving. She might be stressed or frustrated by the idea of driving. Even if she doesn’t talk to you about those feelings, she might start vaguely hinting or mentioning them to you in subtle ways. Listen carefully to try to determine whether she’s telling you something more important.
Other People Are Talking about Her Driving
What are you hearing from other people? Neighbors and other family members might make a comment or mention something that happened that they witnessed. It’s a good idea to try to follow up on those comments, even if they seem to just be an off-the-cuff mention. There could be more going on.
It’s so crucial for you to keep tabs on your senior’s driving as much as you can. Let her know that you’re concerned because you want her to be as safe as possible. Encourage her to try new solutions, like relying on senior care providers to do the driving. Those ideas can keep her mobile, but in a much safer way.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING SENIOR CARE IN DES MOINES, IA, FOR AN ELDERLY LOVED ONE, CONTACT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF DES MOINES, IA AT 515-631-5033. OUR CARING STAFF CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!
