What Can You Do if Your Senior Sneaks out and Drives When She Legally Can't?

Elderly Care Evanston IL - What Can You Do if Your Senior Sneaks out and Drives When She Legally Can't?

Many elderly people who aren't supposed to drive any longer may not actually stop driving. This can be a terrifying discovery for you as a caregiver when you realize that your unlicensed senior is out driving around. 

Determine How and Why it Happened Once She's Safe 

It's important for you to figure out why this situation happened and how it was able to occur. Your senior may have a spare set of keys that you didn't know about, for example. She may feel justified in what she's done, but it's vital for her to understand that if she no longer has a driver's license, she's actually putting other people in danger when she's behind the wheel. She also needs to realize that there could be legal consequences for her. 

Make Other Transportation Options Difficult to Ignore 

One of the biggest ways to make sure that your senior has transportation options available is to ensure that they're impossible to ignore. You can do this by hiring elderly care providers to offer transportation right then or you can set up a system within the family where members sign up for a day or "shift." If the transportation is available immediately, your senior doesn't have an excuse. 

Disable the Car or Sell It 

For some elderly adults, the temptation of seeing a vehicle right there is just too much. You might need to talk to a mechanic about how to safely disable the car so that it cannot function any longer. If that's still too distracting for your senior, then it might be necessary to sell the car instead. The idea is to help your aging adult to let go of the idea that she needs to drive. 

Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles 

If you're concerned that your elderly family member might try this again, it's a good idea to contact your local department of motor vehicles and ask them what options you might have. They can let you know the specific laws in your area that apply to your situation. 

​Hopefully your senior will understand the gravity of the situation and agree not to do this again. If she's still determined to drive, however, you may need to explore what other options are available for you. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care Services in Evanston IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

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