If it is no longer an option for your aging loved one to get behind the wheel and drive herself to the places she needs to go to, it can be a difficult transition. Your loved one may feel frustrated that she can’t simply hop in her car when she wants and go where she wants, but she might also feel fear about how will she get to needed appointments, run errands, or even meet her grandchild for lunch. This could be one of the duties that her home care assistance providers can assist her with.
Most likely, there won’t be one simple answer. You’ll need to look at several options to help with transportation for your loved one. Creativity is key, but reliability is also very important. You want your loved one to feel like she can depend on whoever is providing the transportation.
Home Care Assistance Agencies
One excellent place to find a safe and reliable driver is to research local home care assistance agencies in your area. Ahome care assistance provider can bring your loved one to and from appointments, out shopping, or to that lunch date with her grandchild. Home care assistance agencies have lots of wonderful services they can provide your aging loved one, and driving is just one of them.
Public Transportation
Depending on how comfortable you and your loved one are with her navigating public transportation, most larger cities have very reliable and safe transportation systems that can get you to just about any area of the city. It may be buses, trolleys, or trains, but if you’re looking for affordable transportation, it’s a great place to start.
Taxis, Ubers, and Private Transportation
While all of these services can add up in expenses if your loved one uses them a lot, they can be a great option for trips to places that other public transportation doesn’t travel to or for transportation that is either off-hours or needed at a very specific time. Some areas have transportation services that include buses and vans specifically geared toward the elderly population and you might find that’s a great fit for your loved one.
Friends and Family
While not always the most reliable, friends and family, and even neighbors, can be a great resource for providing rides to the market or church. You’ll want to make sure you know the person well, that they are a safe driver, and that your loved one will feel comfortable riding with them. The nice thing is that they can also provide a bit of companionship for your loved one and they might find themselves starting a friendship that will go beyond simply driving places.
There’s no doubt that losing one’s ability to drive is difficult after a lifetime of independence but continue to encourage your loved one to have patience with the process. Sometimes even the best resources are late or are unable to show up at their assigned time. Make sure your loved one has a way to reach each resource in case something does come up on her end or on their end. You don’t want her waiting somewhere away from home for a ride that has been delayed without knowing why.