4 Tips to Get an Elderly Person to Stop Driving

What to do when your senior is no longer a safe driver

How to get an elderly person to stop driving is a top question among caregivers. If you’ve discovered that your parent or spouse is no longer a safe driver, talking to them about giving up the car keys is one of the most difficult conversations to have, but one that’s extremely important.

If your senior is no longer safe behind the wheel, they could hurt themselves or other innocent people, even children. It’s better to have these conversations before an accident happens.

We’ve got 4 tips to make the discussion easier and more successful. Understanding why they’re so resistant to giving up driving will also make a difference when you talk with them.

Why seniors resist giving up the car keys

Many older adults get offended, defensive, or angry when asked to stop driving. That’s because driving is a major symbol of independence and control.

Your senior is already dealing with loss of control over their health, so asking them to give up driving will be yet another blow to their self-esteem. Plus, being asked to stop driving probably makes your older adult feel trapped, especially if they live in a suburb or are used to having complete freedom.

This conversation will be tough and you’ll probably feel like the bad guy.  Even though you may feel guilty, please know that you’re absolutely doing the right thing. Convincing a senior to stop driving is for their own safety as well as the general public’s safety. Your senior will forgive you, but it may take some time. They may never admit it, but deep down, they know this is necessary.

4 tips to convince a senior to stop driving

1. Discreetly prepare a list of observations about their driving ability
The first thing to do is make a list of reasons why your older adult is no longer a safe driver. Take a casual ride with them to a familiar location, like the grocery store, and see if you notice key warning signs of unsafe driving. Write down anything that concerns you.

The signs of unsafe driving that you see can become part of the conversation and will help you explain why you’re concerned about their safety. Having it down on paper means that you won’t forget an important point in the heat of the moment.

2. Come up with alternative transportation options
Whether they can drive themselves or not, your older adult will still have places to go and errands to run. Plus, staying connected with friends and active in the community are essential for preventing the negative effects of social isolation.

Reduce resistance to giving up driving by creating a list of realistic transportation options. Seeing these alternatives on paper will reassure your senior that they’ll still be able to get out and do things.

Some ideas:

• Arrange a ride schedule with family and friends
• Use on-demand ride services like Uber or Lyft
• Take taxis
• Hire a private car service for several hours each week
• Take public transportation
• Get rides from volunteer drivers from senior centers or religious and community service organizations
• Take advantage of free or low-cost ride programs for seniors

3. Approach the subject respectfully and acknowledge that this is difficult for them
When you have the conversation about giving up the keys, the most important thing is to be respectful.

You might start off by saying “I know this must be a sensitive subject, but we need to talk about your driving.” Then, share a few specific concerns in a kind way. Emphasize that you’re not accusing them of being a bad driver. Instead, focus on their health conditions or other aging-related issues that make their driving unsafe.

4. Be understanding and give them time to accept the changes
Convincing a senior to stop driving means asking them to make a major change. This can significantly affect their quality of life so it’s understandable that they may get upset.

Give them time to accept the changes and space to work through their feelings. Because it’s such a big adjustment, it may take more than one conversation before they’re ready to give up the car keys.

You might also like:
— 7 Warning Signs: How to Know When Your Parents Should Stop Driving
— 8 Ways to Stop an Elderly Person From Driving When All Else Fails
— How to Talk with Parents About Aging: Conversation Starters

By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: Shake, Rattle and Roll
A version of this article was originally published on Sixty and Me

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