Blog > What Can You Ask Your Senior When You Talk about Driving?

What Can You Ask Your Senior When You Talk about Driving?

Talking about driving with your senior can be a delicate conversation. But asking questions that get you the information you need can allow you both to make a better plan. Sit down and have an earnest conversation with your senior about their driving. Use the questions below, and have a plan prepared if they are willing to hand over the keys. The best way for your senior to continue having transportation to doctor visits, therapy appointments, visits with friends and more is to bring in elder care.

How Do You Feel While You’re Driving?

This is an open-ended question that allows you to see what your senior is willing to tell you about her driving experience. If she’s telling you that she’s uncomfortable or using other phrases that let you know something isn’t right, you can use that information to dig a little bit deeper. She may also try to use a noncommittal answer, like that “it’s fine.” But that answer doesn’t tell you much.

Are You Confident about Your Driving?

Your senior might try to hedge a bit on this question. If she’s not confident behind the wheel, though, that’s a problem. She needs to be able to trust her abilities and her reactions. Not being able to do those things could mean that she’s having more difficulty than she’s let on to you.

Have You Experienced Close Calls You Haven’t Mentioned?

This question is a chance for your senior to come clean about anything that’s happened behind the wheel. You might want to make it clear to her that she’s not “in trouble,” but that you need to know so that you can help her. Anyone can experience a close call while driving but understanding more about the circumstances that your senior has experienced can help you to see if driving might not be a good idea for her.

Are You Willing to Stop Driving if Your Skills Are Fading?

When you ask this question of your senior, it’s about making sure that when the time comes, she’s willing to work with you. There is going to come a time when your elderly family member is not going to be able to drive safely any longer. If you can come to an agreement about that now, that’s better for both of you.

How Open Are You to Alternatives to Driving?

There are alternatives for your senior to driving herself, but she needs to be willing to use them. One of the easiest is to hire elder care providers to help with the driving. They can make sure your senior gets where she wants to go any time that she wants to go.