As we age, safe driving may become a challenge. Sometimes seniors lose their ability to react quickly, they may not be able to see well, have stiff joints, or may lose their way when driving due to Alzheimer’s or other underlying diseases. It is not easy to admit that you may need to do additional things to keep driving or that you may no longer be able to drive. You will need to ensure that your loved one is aware of the safety issues that may come into play in the case they continue to drive.

We all like to be able to take care of our own needs. That includes driving ourselves where we need to go and when we would like to do so. However, as we age, we may be unable to drive ourselves. This may be due to the inability to drive ourselves safely to our destination. This is a great time to speak with your family and friends as well as local aging agencies to see how you can still get where you need to go without a vehicle. If you have a loved one who is a senior, make sure to observe their driving to ensure it is safe for them to do so. If you receive recommendations from their physician, such as for example getting an eye exam more frequently or making sure that they take a particular medication and not drive after it, make sure that those instructions are followed to keep them safe.

How to Tell if Your Senior Loved Ones Should Drive

Due to aging, you may notice that a senior exhibits certain behavior or has conditions that may affect their ability to drive. It is important to recognize these and speak with other family members and friends as well as their physician so that you can understand the situation better. It is best to have a conversation with them and help them understand if it is no longer safe for them to drive, and how you will support them moving forward when they need to go places.

There are some signs to look out for if you are unsure if your senior loved one should continue driving. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list and that it is different for each person. It will depend on their physical and mental health and well-being. Here are a few things to look out for:

• Issues with vision, especially at night. Make sure that the senior gets their eyes checked and determine if it is safe for them to drive.
• Underlying disease such as Alzheimer’s and its progression. Do they get lost on familiar roads? Can they find their way home? These are important questions that should be considered.
• Arthritis or other similar diseases that may make their joints stiff can affect their ability to drive.
• You should observe how quickly they can react to situations. To drive, they must be able to react quickly as needed.
• Issues with hearing can affect their ability to drive as they may not be able to hear honking from other drivers or sirens from ambulances or the police etc.
• Be aware of medications that can affect their ability to drive. You want to make sure that they are not drowsy or sleepy.
• If you’ve noticed dents or bumps on their car and they don’t remember how they got there, they may be losing some of their cognitive ability which is an issue when driving.
• If you’ve had complaints from other family members or their friends about driving, you should take them seriously. Discuss it with the family members and friends and the senior and observe how they drive before taking any other actions.
• Sometimes seniors will be scared about driving at night. This may be a sign that they have a difficult time seeing things around them which is a big issue when driving.

If you’ve observed your senior loved one and determined that they have an issue that may affect their ability to drive, you must act. Form an alliance with loved ones and friends as well as their physician, so that they can actively understand what the issue is and how it needs to be addressed. If it is determined by their physician that they should no longer be driving, you will need to have a difficult conversation with your loved one. Here are a few things to consider when having this conversation with them:

• Be respectful and understanding: It will be difficult for the senior to hear that they are no longer capable of driving, so make sure that you are listening and respecting what they tell you.

• Offer a solution: The senior may understand that they are no longer able to drive, but that means that their independence is being taken away. Work with them to find a solution. See what options are available to them in the local community such as options for public transportation. Also, check with family members and friends and see if they can support when it comes to getting the loved one around to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping etc.

• Stick to the Topic: Make sure that you stay on the topic at hand, which is their inability to drive safely. Make sure that you are not judging or focusing on their age. This is something that is difficult to hear for the senior so be sensitive of that and offer your support.

It is important that you help your senior loved one drive only if it is safe to do so. This helps keeps them and others around them safe. If they are still able to drive but have recommendations from their physician on what issues they should address, make sure that they do so. This will help them keep their independence.

Are you or a loved on in need of senior care? Assisting Hands of Deerfield is here to help. We offer senior home care services in Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Grayslake, Green Oaks, Hawthorn Woods, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Mundelein, IL and surrounding areas, including non-medical transportation for those who no longer drive. Give us a call at (224) 268-9068 for more about our non-medical home health care services.