Some aging adults are very resistant to the idea of no longer driving. There are lots of reasons for this, but at some point you may have no choice but to resort to some big solutions to keep her from driving.
Alert Friends and Family.
The more people who know that your senior isn’t supposed to drive, the easier it may be to keep her out of the driver’s seat. If she can’t talk people into letting her drive, she may finally give up. The upside to letting other people know is that they can help you to be on the lookout when you’re busy elsewhere. You need as much help with this as you can get.
Talk to Her Doctor.
Your senior’s doctor may be one of your best sources of help in this endeavor. Her doctor may be able to get through to her from the standpoint that her health has made driving too difficult for her. Your senior’s doctor may be able to take other steps, such as alerting the Department of Motor Vehicles that she should no longer be driving.
Try a White Lie or Two.
Sometimes a white lie can go a long way toward helping you to keep your senior out of the driver’s seat. You might let her know that you’ve lost the keys to the car or that the car needs repairing. You can prolong the repair fib by letting her know that the mechanic is waiting for parts for the car. Even though this can feel wrong, it may be a necessary step in order to keep your elderly family member from driving when she really shouldn’t be.
Sell the Car.
As a last resort, you might want to actually sell the car. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, moving it to another location where your senior isn’t likely to see it is a good idea. The upside to actually selling the car is that your senior won’t have maintenance and insurance expenses any longer. This can be especially helpful if your elderly family member’s insurance rates have gone up due to her driving.
Above all else, you need to make sure that your senior always has another form of transportation available. One of the easiest ways to do that is to have home care providers available any time that you’re not able to be there. They can drive for your senior and ensure that she doesn’t sneak off on her own in the car.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring home care in Mauldin, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116. Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.
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