Is it time your senior gave up the wheel?

There comes a time in a senior’s life when they have to give up driving. Most elders resist giving up the wheel for as long as possible. This may not be in their best interest or in the interest of other people on the road. The elderly tend to get very defensive whentheir driving ability or skill is questioned. So, the discussion about if and why they should stop driving has to be done in a diplomatic way that will not upset them.

Why do the elderly resist?

Seniors make a fuss about giving up driving because in an age where they feel like they areslowly losing control, this heralds the loss of another independence – mobility. It makes them feel old and less capable and can be very difficult after enjoying a lifetime of independence.

Causes of driving difficulty in seniors

If your senior has any of these following problems they should be prevented from driving.

Vision impairment
Hearing impairment
Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease
Arthritis
Diabetes
If they are having any kind of medications that could impair driving ability

Diplomacy is the key

The loss of independence associated with having to stop driving is a big problem for seniors. Patience is required when persuading a reluctant senior to refrain from driving. Make sure that they understand that the reason that they should stop driving will not in any way make them home bound or make them dependent on others.Give them alternative options to commute like:-

Install one of the Uber or Ola apps on their phone and teach them to use it, so that they can be totally independent and use these services to call for a ride whenever they want and to wherever they want.
If they are not tech savvy, encourage them to use a call taxi. They are still in charge and can call for one whenever they need to.
If the senior has a car, they can hire a driver for the day.
If your senior has any kind of physical or mental age related disability and cannot go out on their own safely, arrange for them to be dropped and picked up by family members or friends, depending on whoever is free.

Remember, that as long as they feel that they are in control and don’t feel like they are losing their independence, they can be persuaded to give up driving.

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