Why Doesn’t Your Senior Want to Talk about Driving?
When you’re trying to talk to your senior about her driving, does she change the subject? That’s called avoidance and there might be a few different reasons your senior doesn’t want to have this conversation. Figuring out what’s really going on can help you to put the right solutions in place for her.
She Firmly Believes She’s a Great Driver
Lots of people think they’re great drivers, your senior included. That doesn’t necessarily mean that their opinion is accurate, but that may not matter to her. Changing your senior’s perception of her own abilities behind the wheel may not be something you can do, either. It may take observations from other people or a recommendation from her doctor for her to be able to consider anything different.
She Could Know Driving Is a Problem, but Wants to Avoid It
Just because your senior isn’t in denial about her driving, that doesn’t mean she’s willing to talk about it. Lots of older adults hide that their ability to drive is declining because they don’t want to lose the ability to come and go as they please. Your senior may not trust that you’re not planning to leave her homebound, even if you’ve been explicit with her about wanting her to continue to be mobile.
She’s Worried, but Not about What You’re Worrying About
You’ve got plenty to be worried about when it comes to driving and your senior. You’re most likely worried about her safety and what might happen if she’s driving when she shouldn’t be. Her worries could be a lot different. She may not want to lose her independence or she may simply be worried that she’ll experience bigger declines in her mental and physical health if she stops driving. Understanding what she’s really worried about can help.
She’s Afraid
The bottom line in all of these scenarios can come down to fear. There’s a lot for her to be afraid of, too. There’s the unknown of what happens once she stops driving. Even if you offer her a perfectly valid solution, like bringing in elder care providers to drive for her, she may be afraid of how that situation will really work. Reassuring her can help immensely.
Open the lines of communication with your senior about your concerns and about what you want to do to help her. Breaking down those barriers is the first thing you need to do.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Bordentown, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.
The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.
Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.
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