How to Evaluate the Driving Skills of Your Senior Loved One

In-home care can help seniors still feel independent when they have to stop driving

In-home care can help seniors still feel independent when they have to stop driving

Your senior loved one may have been driving for years before you were born, but as they age in place, there comes a time when they may need to hang up the keys. Giving up driving is typically one of the last things a senior will do because it means they are losing control and what they define as freedom. But how can you tell when it is actually time for someone to give up their keys?

Here are some ways to tell if it is your senior mom or dad’s time to give up driving.

 

Get a Professional Involved

Sometimes a senior is less likely to listen to their adult child and may not believe a child when they say it’s time to give up driving. They may not know they are driving recklessly, and they may not think there is anything wrong with what they are doing.

Instead of continuing this argument, get in-home care services and a professional involved. There are professional occupational therapists who can help evaluate whether or not your senior needs to give up driving. They will collect proof as to whether or not it is time to give up driving; they may even have your loved one participate in a driving test.

 

Look At Your Senior

If you notice they are having difficulty seeing, turning their neck, or moving the wheel, you need to note those things. Are they happening often or just once in a while? In-home care professionals can also help observe your senior loved one to better understand their abilities and health.

When you talk to your senior loved one about these things, ensure that you are not accusing them of anything. If you tell someone those things make them a bad driver, they can get defensive, will be less likely to hear you out, and may become stubborn when talking about giving up the keys.

 

Take Them to Get a Medical Evaluation

A senior may be more likely to listen to a medical professional when it comes to driving. A doctor will say something if a senior is no longer physically or mentally capable of driving. It may hurt your senior loved one to find out a doctor is saying they are not allowed to drive, but it can also save their lives. If you are worried about your loved one, it is time to take them to the doctor to get medical input on driving.

 

Provide Solutions

You should always evaluate a senior’s driving every so often, but when it is time to suggest a senior stop-driving, you should have options for them. Your loved one may need more help around the house outside of driving too, but driving may be the one thing you focus on.

One of the best solutions for seniors who wish to age in place is hiring in-home care. These professionals can help seniors maintain their homes and provide non-medical and non-emergency transportation. Your senior does not have to give up the life they want; they can be social, go grocery shopping, and live life to the fullest with the help of in-home care services.

 

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering In-Home Care in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Thrive Health Care Services today. (703) 992-0484