Seniors and Driving: Things to Consider

Senior Independent Living  |  July 19, 2021

What Every Senior in Victoria, BC Needs to Know About Seniors and Driving

Seniors and Driving | For many Canadian seniors, the decline of physical and mental faculties necessary for safe driving may be one of the biggest challenges of aging. As we age, a gradual loss of vision, hearing, dexterity, or mental sharpness slowly but surely interferes with our ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

At a certain point in our lives, many of us have to give up driving for safety reasons. Before that happens, there are a number of options and resources available in Victoria, BC, that can help older adults to successfully adapt to these changes and keep on driving for longer.

For instance, seniors can opt for driving courses such as DriveLab – a program specially dedicated to evaluating driving skills. A company called Drivewise organizes seminars across Canada that introduce seniors to driving strategies that help reduce collisions and other traffic accidents.

Seniors and Driving: Things to Consider

Choose a Senior-Friendly Car: When it comes to making driving easier and promoting safety behind the wheel, opting for a car with senior-friendly features can make all the difference. As recommended by The American Automobile Association (AAA) and the National Older Driver Research and Training Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville, senior-friendly vehicles should have:

• Adjustable pedals
• Power-operated seats
• A tilt & telescoping steering wheel
• Four doors
• Accommodating entry height
• Large or wide-angle mirrors
• Brake assist
• Lumbar support
• Adjustable seatbelts
• Keyless entry and start
• Stability control

When Should Seniors Retire from Driving: Just as we make plans to retire from work, seniors should consider planning and making preparations for retiring from driving too. As a matter of fact, many Canadians choose to limit their driving as soon as physical and cognitive limitations occur. For example, some opt to drive only during daylight while others choose to drive only around town and avoid high-traffic roads.

At Comfort Keepers® Victoria we feel that home is the best place to be.

Aging adults often think that giving up driving will also entail giving up their lifestyle and independence, but it is not necessarily the case. At Comfort Keepers of Victoria, our professional caregivers drive and accompany seniors wherever they need to go.

We can help your elderly loved one to safely get to and from scheduled appointments at the doctor’s office, visit friends and family as often as they would like to, take shopping trips or trips out of town. Our goal is to enable your loved one to stay as mobile and as independent as possible by being able to engage in activities that make them happy.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria Can Help with Seniors and Driving Solutions

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care, post-surgery care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers®’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers Victoria office.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria is proud to provide home care throughout Victoria that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Victoria and the surrounding areas of Colwood, Saanich, Sidney, James Bay, and Oak Bay. 

Please call (778) 265-5999 and learn how your loved ones can receive compassionate, professional in-home care.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures are examined by industry experts against a set of quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada.

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