It's natural to be concerned about your loved one's ability to drive safely. Older adults have a slower reaction time, are
less attentive to road hazards, and sometimes have medical conditions that make it difficult to drive. Intervening with
the older adults in your life can be difficult because many caregivers are concerned that by doing so, they're taking away
the independence that comes with the ability to drive. Surrendering the wheel is a significant event for older adults, especially
since our society is so dependent on cars to get anywhere, which means that this will not only affect your loved one, but
your entire care network. Now family members may have to assist with transportation efforts. That effort can cause problems
between family members who may not be supportive of the decision and are unwilling to do the extra work. However, there
are very real consequences of letting older adults drive if they are not up to the task, which is why it's important to
start these conversations early.
Talking About Driving With an Elderly Driver
Having a conversation with the older adults in your life about whether they can or should be driving is a difficult
topic to broach. For many people, delaying the topic is the best way to handle it. They wait until the person's driving
has reached a point where it could be dangerous for the driver or the people around them. However, delaying it until it
reaches that point can be risky and tense for everybody involved, which is why bringing it up sooner can be beneficial.
Believe it or not, it's possible to make these conversations productive and less tense for everybody involved by collecting
information about their driving habits before you approach them, developing a plan of action for your loved one, and then
working with them to follow through on the plan. This is also a great time to learn more about adapting vehicles to fit
the unique needs of senior citizens and those with disabilities and learn about other transportation options your community
offers.
Driving with Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions or injuries could affect driving ability. If your loved one is diagnosed with a medical condition,
learn about what safe driving with that condition looks like and find out if there are any accessibility options available
to help the driving process. Some days may be good days when your loved one can get in the car and drive around with no
problem, but other days may trigger issues with their medical condition and make it unsafe to drive. Learning the warning
signs of these factors is a necessity to ensure your loved one is safe on the road whether it's behind the wheel or in the
passenger seat.
Accessible Transportation Options
In our current world, having a reliable automobile is important, but that doesn't mean being behind the wheel is the only
way your loved ones will be able to reach their destination. Most communities have options specific to older adults that
are designed to meet their needs while still remaining convenient and affordable. Some of the most common options include
Dial-a-Ride which offers curb-to-curb services that can be hired to start and end at an agreed-upon time, community volunteer
transportation programs, and assisted transportation for older adults who need an escort to stay with them throughout the
trip. These options are usually funded federally, on a state level, or locally to support older adults who are no longer
able to drive themselves where they need to go.
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