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For many caretakers and adult children, talking to a senior loved one about giving up driving is a tough conversation. After all, how to do you tell mom or dad to stop driving? Your Columbus senior living authority is here to help.
Just like making the decision to move your loved one into a Columbus senior living community, talking about taking away the car keys is emotionally charged. It is a loss of independence and freedom. And for someone with a decent driving record, it might seem unfair or controlling.
Think about all the things you – or your senior relative in a Columbus senior living community – do with a car. You go shopping, to events or visit friends and family by driving, right?
Losing those freedoms can be scary. For tips on how to talk to your loved one, read on:
Physical changes
Even if your senior loved one has a good driving record, be honest about his or her abilities. Do they have a decent range of motion to turn and grip a steering wheel? How is their hearing and vision? Do they have a medical condition that could cause issues behind the wheel? What are their reflexes like?
If your senior loved one is facing physical changes, a visit to the doctor to discuss whether or not driving is safe can be a great conversation starter.
Crashes or near misses
Pay close attention when you visit your loved one in a Columbus senior living community. Is their car sporting new dings, dents or damage? Do they talk about having near misses or the other bad drivers on the road a lot? If your loved one is having crashes or near misses, it’s probably time to take the keys before something happens.
Mental changes
As we age, we lose cognitive abilities, like the ability to pay attention to more than one thing at once. Also, some medical conditions like dementia can cause forgetfulness or absentmindedness. These can be dangerous on the road. Take stock of your senior loved one’s mental state before talking about handing over the keys.
Abbington Assisted Living IS Columbus senior living
We are here for you and your senior loved ones. If you have questions about Columbus senior living options, check out our website!
