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Tag: Driving Safety

What Is the Best Way to Help Seniors Cope with Trouble Driving?

Posted on by ltcep2023

For most seniors, driving is about way more than just getting from Point A to Point B whenever they want. It’s also about having freedom and independence, even when there are parts of their lives that are changing. When it starts to become obvious that seniors are having more trouble driving, it’s vital for family caregivers to start making plans. Solutions can be as easy as hiring home care assistance to help out with transportation.

Take Action Before Trouble Gets Big

The really important thing for family caregivers to remember is that they need to take action before the problem gets too big. Addressing driving issues proactively helps to prevent injury and damage. It also allows everyone involved to take the time to really explore alternative solutions in a way that is honest, open, and not rushed.

Watch for Changes in Behaviors

Behavioral changes can offer important indications of all sorts of possible issues, including increased driving difficulties. Signs like increased anxiety about driving, more hesitation about driving, trouble navigating familiar routes, and reluctance to drive at all are ones to pay close attention to. Damage to vehicles could indicate trouble with spatial awareness and hiding damage is another big clue.

Visit Healthcare Providers to Get More Information

Visiting healthcare providers early on in this process can help seniors and family caregivers to make the best decisions about how to proceed. Scheduling an appointment with medical providers allows everyone involved to talk about health conditions that could impact driving, like vision changes, cognitive decline, or side effects from medications. Healthcare providers can help families to put together a timeline for phasing out driving.

Make a Plan for Dealing with Driving Issues

After gathering as much information as possible, it’s time to make a plan. Some seniors may still be able to keep driving, especially under very specific circumstances. Family caregivers need to sit down with their aging family members and talk about what is feasible and safe to do going forward. Now is a great time to talk about solutions like having home care providers available to do the driving.

Foster Independence and Safety by Getting Help

Home care assistance can seem to some seniors at first as a way for them to lose even more independence. But in reality, caregivers offer support only as needed, which allows seniors to remain independent while also getting valuable help that they need. This makes life easier for seniors, but it also makes life safer overall. When seniors don’t have to worry about how they’re going to get places when they need to, that’s going to reduce a lot of stress.
Helping seniors to get past the problem of losing their ability to drive is a complicated process that needs to be handled delicately. Making these plans sooner rather than later is always the better idea and home care assistance can do a lot to ensure that seniors understand that they’re able to keep living their lives, just with a little help when necessary.

If you are considering home care assistance in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

How to Keep Your Senior Driving Safely

Posted on by ltcep2023

Just because your loved one has reached a certain age, it doesn’t necessarily mean she needs to quit driving altogether. Many seniors can still drive but they may just need to be a little more vigilant about ensuring that they are driving safely. When it comes time for them to hang up the keys for good, a home care provider can be there to offer transportation for your parent.

Let’s look at some ways your aging loved one can help make sure he’s still able to drive safely around town.

  • Keep those eyes in good shape. If your loved one is driving, it’s more important than ever that he keep on top of his eyesight and get new glasses when needed. If the glaring sun is an issue, prescription sunglasses may be a must as well.
  • Keep tabs on hearing as well. Hearing may not always seem to be a necessary sense for driving, but it is very important. Your loved one needs to be able to hear when others honk at him in warning or hear an emergency vehicle coming up from behind in order to move to the side of the road.
  • Keep track of medication side effects. When a new prescription is filled, take the time to ask the doctor and pharmacist if the medication can be used while driving. You’ll want to know if causes sleepiness or a slow down in reflexes. If it’s a temporary medication and has those side effects, your loved one should look for help from his home care provider for rides while he’s taking the medication.
  • Keep the car in tip-top shape. Help your loved one drive more safely by ensuring his vehicle is in the best of shape. Look at the tires to ensure the treads are in good shape for traveling on wet or icy roads. Check the windshield wipers to make sure they’ll be able to keep the windshield clear during an unexpected downpour. And check that all of the exterior lights are working and providing good illumination of the road ahead of him and behind him.
  • Look at replacing his car. If your loved one needs a different car to help him drive better, you might want to consider a car that suits his needs better. Perhaps he needs to change from a standard shift to an automatic shift. Or you might want to look at a car that is easier to get in and out of.
  • Finally, remind your loved one about safe driving practices. Knowing that responses often slow down as a person ages, it’s more important than ever to not exceed the speed limit, give plenty of space between him and the car in front of him, and turn off all distractions while driving.

Your loved one may need to make some adjustments so that he can still enjoy the road, but aging doesn’t mean he needs to completely give the wheel to someone else.

If you are considering home care in Summerlin, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.