Aging can be debilitating for some as it may mean a loss of some common lifestyle routines your loved ones may have. As your loved ones grow advanced in years, it doesn’t mean that they must forgo the usual activities they enjoy. Some activities, like driving, allows them to stay mentally alert while feeling independent too. However, driving brings about its own risks and challenges which may not be compatible for your loved ones if they grow older. Here are the reasons why you may have to educate your loved ones to stop driving if they are well advanced in age.
Car Accidents
One way to educate your loved ones to stop driving is to let them know the risks of car accidents. This is because, with age, your loved ones may have slower reflexes, which is a normal biological change that comes with age. With this, it may mean putting themselves, and the people on the road at risk too as they may not be able to carry out certain driving tasks quick enough, such as brakes and so on.
Risk of Getting Lost
Another reason to push for your loved ones to stop driving is the higher risk of them getting lost if they drive. This is because as they grow older, they may be experiencing a sharp cognitive decline. This same cognitive decline also explains the onset of illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and so on. This is because brain cells related to the brain component associated with memory start degenerating. As they experience a cognitive decline, they may find it harder to find their way around certain locations that were once familiar to them. Even with a GPS around, it may not mitigate the risk of them getting lost.
Car Damage
Your loved ones may not get into a catastrophic accident but the risk of them damaging the car is relatively high. This is because they may be experiencing a decline in their spatial awareness as they grow older. This means that they may not be well-aware of the nooks and crannies, especially if they’re parking the car. Car damage will incur some financial cost which is a huge reason to encourage your loved ones to stop driving.
Communication Issues
Communication is essential in driving, especially in the form of giving non-verbal cues. As your loved ones may experience slower reaction times or cognitive decline, it may cause them to be slow in communicating when they are turning into a busy lane and so on. This may lead to potential car damage or jeopardizing the lives of people on the road. They may also find it hard to comprehend the communication cues that other people are giving, further complicating their ability to drive safely.
Risk of Distraction
Due to their potential cognitive decline, it may be difficult for them to maintain sufficient attention span, which is needed when driving. Therefore, they may not notice a stoplight or accidentally drift to another lane. This is noticeable if they tend to jump from one topic to another.
At Regency Pointe, we offer transportation services for your loved ones so they can move around without having to drive by themselves. Contact us to find out more!
