Senior Care and Home Care Resources in Joliet, Illinois and Will County

Issues on the Road

• Trouble with the nuts and bolts of driving. Do you see yourself making sudden lane changes, drifting into other lanes, braking, or accelerating suddenly without reason? How about failing to use the turn signal or keeping the signal on without changing lanes?
• Close calls and increased citations. Red flags include frequent “close calls” (i.e., almost crashing), dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, and curbs. Increased traffic tickets or “warnings” by traffic or law enforcement officers.
  

Senior Driving Tip#4: Adjust to Life Without Driving

Adjusting to life without a car may be challenging at first. Most likely, you’ve been driving your whole life, and it feels like quite a shock. It’s normal to be frustrated, angry, or irritable. You might even feel ashamed or worry that you are losing your independence. However, it takes a lot of courage to stop driving and put the safety of yourself and others first. You may also find there are many benefits to living without a car that you may not have considered. For example, you may:

• Save money on the cost of car ownership, including car insurance, maintenance, registration, and gasoline. These savings can pay for alternative transportation if necessary. In fact, many seniors who only use their car for short trips often find that using a taxi or shuttle service for those same trips works out to cost far less.
• Improve your health. Giving up the car keys often means walking or cycling more, which can have a hugely beneficial effect on your health. Regular exercise from walking and cycling can help seniors boost their energy, sleep better, and improve confidence. It can also help you manage the symptoms of illness and pain, maintain your independence, and even reverse some of the signs of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body—it’s good for your mind, mood, and memory.
• Expand your social circle. While many seniors have difficulty accepting offers of rides from others, this can be a good time to reach out and connect with new people. Find a way of accepting rides that make you comfortable. For example, you can offer a friend money for gas or trade off on other chores, such as cooking a meal in return for your friend driving.
• Appreciate the change of pace. For many, stopping driving means slowing down. While that may not sound appealing to everyone, many seniors find that they actually enjoy life far more when they live it at a slower pace. It can also have a beneficial effect on mental health by placing less stress on your nervous system.
  

Know Your Transportation Alternatives

• The more alternatives you have to drive, the easier the adjustment will be. You want to make sure that you can get out not only for essentials like doctor’s appointments but also for social visits and enrichment. Feeling housebound can quickly lead to depression.
• This may also be a time to evaluate your living arrangements. If you are isolated and there are few transportation options in your area, you may want to consider moving to an area with more options or investigating senior living options.
• Public transit. If you live in an area that is well connected with public transit, it can be a very handy way to get around. Check your local public transit options and about reduced prices for older adults.
• Ride sharing. Family members, friends, and neighbors may be a resource for ride-sharing. Offer to share the costs or to return the favor in a different way, such as cooking a meal or helping with yard work.
• Community shuttles/senior transit. Your local community may have a shuttle service available, especially for medical appointments. Some medical facilities, such as those for veterans, also have transportation options for medical appointments. Your local place of worship may also offer transit options.
• Taxis or private drivers. Taxis may be a good option for quick trips without a lot of prior scheduling. You can also look into hiring a chauffeur or private driver. You can go through a formalized driving service, or sometimes, a family member, friend, or neighbor can help. You do want to make sure whoever is driving has a good driving record and is responsible.
• Walking/cycling. If health permits, walking or cycling when you can is a great way to not only get around but also get some exercise. Regular physical activity lowers your risk for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.
• Motorized wheelchairs. Motorized wheelchairs can be a good way to get around if you live in an area with easily accessible stores and well-paved streets.
• For ways to find transportation alternatives in your area, see the Resources section below.
  

How to Talk to a Loved One About Driving Concerns

• Driver safety can often be a sensitive issue for seniors. A driver’s license signifies more than the ability to drive a car; it is a symbol of freedom and self-sufficiency. Understandably, driving is not a privilege that anyone wants to relinquish willingly. Still, safety must come first.
• Some older drivers may be aware of their faltering ability but still be reluctant to give up driving completely. Another person’s concerns may force the senior driver to act. They may even feel relieved to have someone else help make the decision to stop driving. Some seniors may forget that they aren’t supposed to drive. If that is the case, it is even more important to remove the car or the keys to make it impossible to drive. If you find yourself in the position of talking to an older friend or family member about their driving, remember the following:
• Be respectful. For many seniors, driving is an integral part of independence. Many older adults have fond memories of getting a driver’s license. At the same time, don’t be intimidated or back down if you have a true concern.
• Give specific examples. It’s easier to tune out generalizations like “You just can’t drive safely anymore.” Outline concerns that you have noticed, such as “You have a harder time turning your head than you used to,” or “You braked suddenly at stop signs three times the last time we drove.”
• Find strength in numbers. If more than one family member or close friend has noticed, it’s less likely to be taken as nagging. A loved one may also listen to a more impartial party, such as a doctor or driving specialist.
• Help find alternatives. The person may be so used to driving that they have never considered alternatives. You can offer concrete help, such as researching transportation options or offering rides when possible. If your family member is reluctant to ask for help, it can lead to isolation and depression.
• Understand the difficulty of the transition. Your loved one may experience a profound sense of loss, having given up driving. Don’t dismiss their feelings, but try to help with the transition as much as possible. If it is safe, try slowly transitioning the senior out of driving to give them time to adjust. For example, your loved one may begin the transition by no longer driving at night or on the freeways or by using a shuttle service to specific appointments, such as the doctor’s.
  

When a driver refuses to give up the keys

• Sometimes, an older driver has to be stopped from driving over their objections. It might feel very difficult for you to make this call, especially if the senior is a parent or other close figure used to have their independence. However, their safety and the safety of others must come first. An unsafe driver can seriously injure or kill themselves or others.
• If appropriate evaluations and recommendations have been made, and no amount of rational discussion has convinced the driver to hand over the car keys, then you may make an anonymous report to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (in the U.S. or Canada) or talk to the person’s physician about your concerns. In some cases, there is a need to take further actions, such as taking away the car keys, selling or disabling the car, and enlisting the local police to explain the importance of safe driving and the legal implications of unsafe driving.