Driving: When it’s time for your elderly family member to quit driving, she may spend some time in denial.

That’s normal, but she can’t stay there long because it may very well be dangerous for her to continue to drive.

She’s Having Trouble Gauging Where the Car Is

Eventually, your senior may find that it’s particularly difficult to tell where things are, spatially speaking. She may think she has plenty of room between her car and another, for instance, only to find that she bumps right into the other car. This is a problem, because in order to avoid collisions your senior needs to be able to properly gauge her car’s position.

She’s Getting Lost in Familiar Surroundings

Memory loss can happen for a variety of reasons and it’s usually a frustrating situation for your senior when she starts becoming more and more forgetful. If she finds that she’s getting lost in surroundings that are familiar for her, that is a big problem. She may want to talk to her doctor about what might be happening in terms of her cognitive health and driving is definitely not a good idea.

She’s Experiencing Medical or Physical Changes that Affect Her Driving

Chronic health issues and physical changes can also be a big hindrance for your senior while driving. She may find that her reflexes aren’t as fast as they used to be or that arthritic joints make controlling the car far more difficult. These limitations mean that your senior may be safer as a passenger than she is as a driver.

Driving: She’s Experiencing Decreased Vision

Your senior may be able to experience diminished hearing and continue to drive, but if her vision is impaired, that’s a big problem behind the wheel. If the vision issues are such that there is no way to correct them, she may find herself out of the driver’s seat. Ideally, she has learned about her vision issues already via regular eye doctor appointments, but some older drivers find that their vision is causing difficulty when they fail the vision test while renewing their driver’s license.

Whatever might be creating difficulties for your senior as she drives, it’s important to find a solution that doesn’t leave her stuck in her home with no way to go where she pleases. One of the easiest answers is to hire a caregiver who can drive for your senior. This ensures that she has transportation and the freedom to continue to be as active as she was when she was still driving.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Elderly Care in Newtown, CT, please contact the caring staff at Elderly Caregivers, LLC  today. (203) 628-7438

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Bernadette Applegreen

Owner at Elderly Caregivers, LLC.

Bernadette Applegreen, began her career in South Africa where she trained in nursing and began caring for the elderly right out of high school. When she came to United States in 1988, she was recertified as a licensed practical nurse and continued her work. Her 34 years of experience includes work in nursing homes, hospitals and patient’s private homes. Bernadette’s dedication and deep concern for her patients led to the creation of Elderly Caregivers. She saw how important it was for the aging population to live in their own homes for as long as possible. They functioned better, were happier and more assured in a familiar environment. In addition, Bernadette saw that home care could be less expensive than the nursing home option. Elderly Caregivers has been taking care of Seniors with an array of different diagnoses and needs. They are treated as individuals and are provided an individual care plan. It is encouraged that clients and family members participate in the process.

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