Difficult Elderly Care Decisions: When It May Be Time for Your Parents to Stop Driving
Elderly Care in Lowell MI
When you took on the role as a family caregiver for your aging parents you likely expected to step in and help them 
handle daily needs, or even transition them into your home so that they could live comfortably and continue to enjoy a high quality of life. What you may not have anticipated is how their needs would change and how these changes would impact your elderly care plan. Even less expected may have been the obligation to make difficult and sometimes awkward decisions to handle these changes and protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of your elderly parents.
One of the most difficult and important decisions you can make is when it is time to stop your parents from driving. For most adults, driving is a sign of independence and enables them to enjoy their freedom, taking care of themselves and embarking on the activities they want to do without having to rely on anyone else. With challenges of aging such as reduced vision, mobility limitations, and cognitive concerns, however, driving becomes a potential danger. Acknowledging when the time has come to take the keys is an important step in protecting your parents while still encouraging them to live the active, involved lifestyle they desire.
Some of the signs it may be time to talk to your parents about no longer driving include:
• Increased vision challenges including problems focusing, reduced acuity, and limited peripheral vision
• Increased hearing impairments
• Experiencing medical incidents such as stroke that worsen reflexes and physical ability
• Symptoms of dementia, confusion, or other cognitive challenges
• Chronic pain or stiffness in the arms, legs, back, or neck that could distract the senior or reduce their ability to react when driving
• Doctors prescribing medications with side effects that could make driving hazardous, such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, or blurred vision
• Sudden increase in citations related to basic driving issues such as swerving, speeding, hitting stationary objects, or not following signs and other signals, or appearance of dents and scratches on the vehicle
If you decide it is time for your elderly parents to stop driving, be prepared to discuss the issue and show your parents that this new phase in their life does not mean they are losing their independence or freedom. Be sure to point out some of the benefits of not driving and ways you will help them continue to participate in the activities they love, including:
• Not driving can help your aging parents improve their health by encouraging alternative forms of transportation, such as walking or bicycling when they want to go somewhere close-by
• Not driving takes away the temptation of doing too much or committing to too many activities and events. Not being the one responsible for driving also reduces stress and can ease anxiety
• Hire an elderly care provider through a home care agency to give your elderly parents assistance with transportation to appointments, errands, and social activities. This ensures your parents can get where they need and want to be even when you are not available to provide rides.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care services in Lowell, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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