Driving is a Safety Concern for Seniors in Covington, TN: How Elderly Services Can Help
Comfort Keepers offers elderly services in Covington, TN, and the surrounding areas to ensure the safety of your loved one on the road
When is it time for seniors to hand over their keys and stop driving? This question is not easy to answer, and it’s a tough conversation to have. But as seniors begin to lose their vision or physical abilities, they may need to start letting someone else drive or begin utilizing elderly services.
Is Your Loved One Safe on the Road?
While some seniors are in good enough health to keep driving as they age, it’s important to pay attention to your loved one’s driving habits. Drivers over the age of 70 have higher crash rates than middle-aged drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If you’re not sure whether it’s time to talk to your loved one about driving, here are some things to watch for.
Frequent Accidents
If your senior is getting in lots of accidents or has been getting more traffic tickets than usual, it may be unsafe for them to drive. Even if these accidents or violations are minor, a small mistake can become fatal - especially for seniors who are already susceptible to injury.
Take a Ride
If you don’t already, try to go on regular rides with your senior as the driver. Notice their driving patterns. If you’ve noticed their driving has gotten worse, it might be time for them to stop driving and it may be time to consider elderly services. If they’ve recently started a new medication, pay close attention to their driving to see if their habits have changed. Certain medications make it unsafe to drive.
Getting Lost
If your loved one regularly gets lost going to familiar places like the store or even their home, this can pose a safety risk to them. If your senior loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia, driving could be very dangerous as they may forget where they are.
Vision and Hearing
Suggest to your loved one that they get a hearing and vision test done each year. Seniors need to be able to read road signs, see traffic lights, and hear cars and sirens in order to drive safely. Many seniors have problems driving at night - ask your loved one if they’re comfortable with it. If they do fine during the day but can’t drive at night, contact local elderly services and make arrangements for those times that they have to drive after dark.
Alternatives to Driving
If your senior is unable to drive themselves places, many elderly services offer transportation. At Comfort Keepers Home Care in Covington, TN, we offer transportation for seniors to run errands and attend social events. This allows your loved one to stay safe while also encouraging them to spend time outside of the house.
If your loved one needs transportation services, Comfort Keepers Home Care in Covington, TN, and the surrounding areas can provide that service along with many more. Contact us to learn more about the elderly services we offer in your community.
