Because driving often represents freedom, taking the keys away from an aging loved one can make you feel like you’re also taking away his or her independence. Even so, if your elderly loved one is putting his or herself or others in danger when he or she gets behind the wheel, it might be time take the keys away. Home Care Assistance, a local agency of home care Oakville familie can trust, presents the following signs your elderly loved one should stop driving.
1. Vision Problems
It is normal for elderly individuals to experience changes in vision as they age, but certain changes can affect your loved one’s ability to drive. Eye problems, like cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration, may make it difficult for your loved one to see signs, break lights, or objects in the road. Likewise, your loved one’s peripheral vision may decline with age, making it difficult for him or her to detect cars in the blind spot or alongside the car.
2. Limited Mobility
Mobility challenges can also cause significant safety problems when driving. If your loved one has limited mobility, he or she may have difficulty maneuvering the vehicle, or even simply getting in and out of the car without the help of a family member or part-time caregiver in Oakville. Likewise, mobility challenges can slow your loved one’s reaction time and inhibit his or her ability to check the blind spot when changing lanes.
3. Sensory and Processing Challenges
Seniors may also develop other sensory and processing issues as they age. Age-related hearing loss can impede your loved one’s ability to hear horns or sirens when driving, and slower processing times may make it difficult for your loved one to safely follow directions, or the basic rules of the road.
If your elderly loved one needs assistance with getting around or completing other daily tasks, hourly or 24-hour live-in care in Oakville may be the right choice. Our caregivers from Home Care Assistance of Oakville can provide the transportation assistance your loved one needs for running errands, including grocery shopping, doctors visits, and picking up prescriptions. To request information about in-home care or to schedule a free no-obligation consultation, give a Care Manager a call at (905) 337-1200.