What Compromises Can You and Your Senior Make about Driving?
As a caregiver to someone that you love, you’re likely to find out quickly that making compromises that work for both of you can help each of you to feel more secure. When it comes to driving safety, some of these options might be worth talking about.
Home Care Services in Hyde Park OH: Senior Driving Compromises
You’ll Make Alternative Arrangements Available, No Questions Asked
One of the things that might bug your senior about having to occasionally give up driving is to talk about why she’s not willing or able to drive. She might also worry that one or two occasions too many like that will get her grounded for good from the driver’s seat. It’s important to make other options, such as elderly care providers who are driving for her, available without putting any other restrictions on your senior’s driving just yet.
She’ll Avoid Driving When Her Vision Might Be Affected
If your elderly family member has issues at times with her vision, it’s a good idea to make this one of the compromises. She could only have trouble at night or during iffy weather, so those might be the conditions of this compromise. Knowing that she has another option can make it easier for your senior to stick to this.
She’ll Drive to Familiar Locations Only
Unfamiliar locations are difficult for anyone to navigate safely, especially if they’re distracted. By asking your senior to stick to familiar locations, you give her an out that she can use to reduce the anxiety being somewhere new can cause.
She’ll Stay Close to Home and Use Specific Routes
Another consideration that you might want to take into account is how far away your senior tends to drive. If she normally drives short distances to run errands, then longer drives across town could pose more of a problem. Having specific routes planned enables your senior to choose less-traveled routes that are likely to be less frustrating for her.
She’ll Give Herself Plenty of Time for Travel
Rushing is a sure path to causing other problems and there’s no need for your elderly family member to have to deal with any of that. Make a deal with her that she’ll always pad her travel time so that if she runs into trouble, the very last thing she needs to concern herself with is whether she’s running late or not.
By making just a few of these compromises, you can help your senior to maintain her independence while breathing a little easier yourself. As your elderly family member’s needs change in regards to driving, it’s possible that the compromises that the two of you make will change as well.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Hyde Park, OH, please contact the caring staff at Queen City Elder Care today. Serving Cincinnati and Surrounding Communities. Call Us Today (513) 510-4410.
Michele Vollmer is a visionary leader who is perpetually searching for ways to improve, so to remain at the leading edge of the home care industry.She has served in the healthcare industry since 1989, including pharmaceutical and home health sales, as well as hospice sales and sales management.
- Winter Safety Tips for Seniors - November 17, 2022
- Fun Fall Activities for Seniors In Cincinnati, OH - October 3, 2022
- National Senior Citizen Day - August 16, 2022