What Can You Do When Your Loved One Is Creative about Continuing to Drive?

January 13, 2017Blogs by Assisting Hands Home Care Palm Beach, Elder Care in Wellington FL

Elder Care in Wellington FL

Elder Care in Wellington FL Having an elderly loved one who is reluctant to give up driving can make serious complications for you as her family caregiver. It’s especially difficult when she’s finding creative ways to get behind the wheel anyway.

Switch out Her Keys

This might feel sneaky, but it can work. Try changing out the keys on your loved one’s keyring for keys that don’t work for her car. If your loved one’s car uses a key fob for the majority of the functions involved in unlocking or driving the car, you might want to remove the battery in addition to switching out the key.

Hide the Keys

For some elderly loved ones, simply switching the keys isn’t enough. You may have to go all the way and completely hide the keys. If there’s only one set of keys for that vehicle, it’s essential that you remember where you hid the keys. Try emailing yourself or sending yourself a text message with the location of the keys. You may also want to rotate your hiding place every few weeks, just in case.

Disable the Car Itself

Depending on how creative your elderly loved one is, you may need to go whole hog and disable the car itself. Talk to a mechanic about the best ways to do that without damaging the vehicle. While you’re at it, ask your mechanic what you need to do in order to prepare the car for long-term storage. This might involve removing gas and other fluids, depending on the car itself.

Make Sure There Is Always Someone Available to Drive

If you’re planning on taking drastic steps to keep your loved one from driving, make sure that you provide a means of transportation at all times for her. Elder care providers are an excellent choice for this, especially if you have to be elsewhere during the day. Other choices for people to talk to about driving for your elderly loved one could include other family members, friends, and neighbors.

Make sure your loved one knows that you’re only concerned about whether she drives because you care about her safety.

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Professional Senior Care in Wellington, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff at Assisting Hands Home Care at (561) 566-5989 Today.