Things That Can Affect The Driving Of Your Senior Loved One 

April 1, 2022 0 Comment Category: Senior Health

Are you worried about the driving of your senior loved one? Have your friends or family expressed concerns about his/her driving? Changes in health and age-related problems can affect the driving skills of your senior loved one. Do not risk hurting your senior loved one or others. As per the opinion of the experts in our senior living and assisted living facility, you need to talk to the doctor of your senior loved one about the concerns that you have about the health and driving skills of your senior loved one. A few things that can affect the driving capability of your senior loved one are discussed below for your knowledge. 

Stiff Muscles And Joints 

With age, the joints and muscles of your senior loved one can get stiff and weak. Arthritis is a common problem among seniors and can affect their ability to drive. With age, it can be difficult for seniors to turn their heads to look back, brake safely, or turn the steering wheel quickly. Make sure that your senior loved one sees his or her doctor if arthritis, pain, or stiffness is getting in the way of his or her driving. Also, you can make them drive a vehicle with automatic transmission, large mirrors, and power brakes. 

Trouble Hearing 

With age, the hearing abilities of seniors can change, making it difficult for them to notice horns or even noises from their own vehicles. Hearing loss can affect the driving capability of seniors as these sounds can warn them when they need to get out of the way or pull over. Make sure to check the hearing ability of your senior loved one every three years after the age of fifty and discuss the concerns that your senior parent or loved one has about hearing with his or her physician. 

Trouble Seeing 

The eyesight of people can change as they grow old. It can be difficult for them to see things, people, or movements out of their direct line of sight. Seniors may take longer to read traffic signs or understand familiar places. These problems can increase at night and glares from street lights or headlights of oncoming vehicles can be a problem. Also, the sun can be blinding for seniors, depending on the time of the day. Eye diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration, and some medicines can also result in vision problems in seniors. 

Slower Reflexes 

The reflexes can be slower in seniors and they might not be able to react as quickly as in the past. The attention span also can be short making it difficult for them to do multiple things at the same time. Weak muscles and stiff joints can also make it difficult for seniors to move quickly. In addition, loss of feeling and tingling in feet and fingers can make it hard for seniors to use the foot pedals or steering. Limitations following a stroke or Parkinson’s disease can also make driving unsafe for seniors. 

Medications Can Affect Driving 

Seniors can take medications that can make them lightheaded, sleepy, and less alert. Check if the medicines taken by your senior loved one have any warning about driving. There are also some medications with side effects that can make driving unsafe. It is important for you to pay attention to how the medications of your senior loved one can affect his or her driving. Read the labels of medicines taken by your senior loved ones carefully and look for any warnings. Also, make a list of the medications taken by them and discuss with their pharmacist or doctor about how the medications can affect driving.