Driving is an important part of independence, whether it’s an adolescent getting his first car, or your senior retaining his ability to drive where he wants, when he wants. But driving is also not a right; it is a privilege, and to keep that privilege, a person has to be able to drive safely, follow the rules of the road, and use their senses to keep themselves and others safe on the road when they’re behind the wheel. While age alone isn’t a reason to stop driving or reduce the amount of driving allowed, certain common health conditions are linked to getting older that should be considered when trying to determine if your elderly loved one is still safe to hop in his vehicle and drive whenever he desires or should seek transportation services from a home care provider.
Five Health Conditions That Can Limit Driving Abilities
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
Even the early stages of dementia can make driving dangerous. One of the first symptoms of the disease is a loss of memory, which means even if your loved one can find his way to the shopping market, he might not be able to find his way back home, especially if there is road construction or reroutes along the way. Dementia can also make it difficult for him to make quick decisions, such as braking suddenly when a car darts out in front of him.
Parkinson’s Disease
Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease can affect your loved one’s reaction time and ability to move his body as needed for certain driving skills.
Arthritis
Arthritis in the back or neck can make turning around to see incoming traffic difficult. Arthritis in the ankles and feet may make sudden braking difficult, and arthritis in the hands can make it more difficult to turn on a car, or even hold onto the steering
Vision or Hearing Issues
A reduction in the ability to see or hear well can make it difficult for your loved one to notice and react to sudden changes on the road, such as hearing emergency vehicles that need to pass or seeing something in the middle of the road that needs to be avoided.
Some Prescription Medications
Some medications cause a person to feel drowsy or slow down reaction times. Make sure to fully understand all of the side effects of your loved one’s medication before determining if he should drive.
Getting Transportation Services
While restricting driving privileges can be tough, you can help your loved one retain his independence by providing safe alternatives to his transportation needs. While public transportation systems such as buses and trains can help supplement his need to get places, a personalized home care provider who can provide transportation services is one of the best ways to support your loved one.
When a home care professional provides transportation services, your loved one has someone come to his door (he doesn’t need to walk to a bus stop or find his way to a bus terminal). Unlike taxis and Ubers, which wait on the street for your loved one, a transportation service provider will walk to the door, make sure your loved one is dressed for his travels, and assist him to the vehicle, reducing the risk of falling along the way. Your loved one may not miss driving so much when he knows he’ll always have a friendly professional ready to pick him up and bring him to his desired location safely.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Transportation Services in Davidson County, TN, please get in touch with the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (615) 307-4509
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Nashville, Brentwood, Nolensville, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Mount Juliet, Lebanon, Goodlettsville, Davidson County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
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