Seniors & Driving: Signs to Be Aware Of
When there’s a senior in your life, you start to worry about their driving habits. Not only do our reflexes start to slow as we age, but cognitive decline and other health conditions can make driving a dangerous task for seniors. Caregivers should frequently assess their loved one’s driving ability and provide senior care strategies to help them get where they want to go safely.
Signs That Your Senior Loved One Can No Longer Drive Safely
If your senior loved one exhibits these signs, talk to them about their driving habits and find other ways for them to get around:
- Failing to signal properly
- Driving too quickly or slowly
- Failing to adjust driving for weather conditions
- Refusing to allow family members or friends to ride with them
- Ignoring traffic lights
- Failing to notice stop signs and other signs
- Becoming nervous or angry behind the wheel
- Slow reflexes, can no longer stop on time
- Misjudging distances, especially between cars when parking
Signs That Your Senior Loved One Can No Longer Drive Safely Due To Dementia
These signs may indicate that your loved one may not be safe to drive due to dementia, even if they still have the reflexes to stop safely in emergencies:
- Getting lost in areas they should know
- Making turns too early or late
- Driving in the wrong direction
- Being confused about how to change lanes
- Stopping for no apparent reason
- Not understanding why they got a ticket
What To Do When Your Senior Loved One Is No Longer Safe To Drive: Contact iCare Home Health Today
After you’ve noticed that your senior loved one is not able to drive safely, you may struggle to bring up the topic with them. Understandably, many seniors feel that their life will be restricted if they give up driving.
Home health care in Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Milton can help your senior stay independent without getting behind the wheel. Senior care services will help your loved one get where he or she wants to go, such as doctor appointments and activities.
At iCare Home Health, our professional caregivers and services can help seniors with reduced mobility or dementia complete their shopping or social visits, and make sure they get home safely. Reach out to iCare Home Health today to discuss home health care in Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Milton for your senior loved one.