Pay Attention to Your Parents’ Driving this Holiday Season

When you haven’t seen your parents in a while, as is all too common right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it might take you by surprise to see how they have changed. While some changes are positive, like the new hobby that they picked up, others can be a little alarming, like a decline in their driving abilities. As we enter the holiday season, look for ways to check up on your parents’ driving skills.

How Can You Tell If Something Might Be Wrong?

First, it’s important to not make your loved one feel self-conscious and like you think something is wrong. Ask them to drive you to the store, your old school, the bank or a family landmark. Along the way, look out for any of these potential driving issues:

• Driving too fast or too slow for the road or weather conditions
• Getting lost on the way to a familiar place or when driving on familiar roads
• Having issues turning or parking
• Receiving multiple tickets or having multiple recent car collisions
• Running stop signs or red lights
• Having sudden scratches and dents on the vehicle since the last time you saw it
• Using lanes or turn signals improperly
• Dangerous mistakes, like confusing the gas and brake pedals

How Can You Start a Conversation?

This is a very sensitive subject for many seniors, so always focus on how they are putting themselves at an increased risk. When you frame it as putting themselves in danger due to other drivers, the conversation can shift the blame off of them and make it easier to cope with driving less or ceasing driving altogether.

Maryland’s Resource Guide for Aging Drivers

Before approaching the driving conversation you may want to check out this free online resource guide offered by the Maryland Department of Transportation for helpful tips and suggestions.

Keep Your Parents Safe on the Road with Senior Care Lifestyles

Senior Care Lifestyles specializes in connecting seniors and families with local Maryland resources and navigates them through all care options and costs to find the perfect match for in-home care, assisted living, or a continuous care retirement community that meets their unique care needs, location and budget. We have helped hundreds of clients and we treat each senior as a valued member of our own family deserving our personalized attention, compassion and respect. 

For help, or questions please call us at 410-977-3718 or send a message through our website www.seniorcarelifestyles.com.