Discover the Key Benefits of Senior Transport Services for Elderly Care

According to technology company 3M, around 8,000 people in the U.S. turn 65 daily. Many baby boomers continue to get behind the wheel, but unfortunately, some do so despite declining abilities necessary for safe driving. Because of this, drivers 65 and older are 16% more likely to cause a road accident than motorists aged 25 to 64.

If you have an older loved one you constantly worry about whenever they get behind the wheel, it may be time to talk to them about transitioning to assisted living in Cambridge, OH. Senior transport services are part of the amenities these communities provide to their residents.

In this guide prepared by our team at Cardinal Place in Cambridge, Ohio, we'll explore the critical benefits of reliable senior transportation. Read on to discover how they can help make the lives of seniors happier, safer, and more convenient.

Getting Seniors Safely From Point A to Point B and Back

A crucial benefit of reliable transportation for seniors is that it lets older adults safely get to their destination and back without getting behind the wheel. Instead, a vetted professional driver chauffeurs them so they can just sit back and relax.

But what exactly can make driving dangerous for seniors?

As people age, their bodies undergo changes that impact some abilities, skills, and cognitive functions associated with driving. So, if your senior loved one experiences any of the problems below, our community's safe senior transport services can handle the driving on their behalf.

Vision Impairment

According to Ophthalmology Times, a study found that vision impairment affects about one in four older adults in the U.S. aged 71 and over.

Visual impairment can cause poor visual acuity or unclear vision and low vision in dark or dim environments. It can result from refractive errors and cataracts, which are more common in older people. Because they affect one's clarity of vision, they can make driving risky, even unsafe.

Joint Stiffness and Muscle Weakness

Aging can also make the joints stiff and weaken the muscles, which could, over time, affect one's ability to drive. For example, stiff joints can make it difficult or uncomfortable to turn the head and look at the sides or rear of the car. Turning the steering wheel quickly or putting on the brakes may also become more challenging due to these age-related changes.

Decreased Reaction Times

Some older people experience decreased reaction times due to declining cognition. Being unable to react swiftly can put senior drivers at a higher risk of a crash. For example, they may not respond quickly enough to sudden changes in road conditions, such as braking or steering a car to one side to avoid a collision.

Medication Side Effects

There's also the issue of unsafe driving due to medication side effects. According to the U.S. FDA, some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can result in the following symptoms that make driving unsafe:

Vision blurriness
Drowsiness or sleepiness
Impaired or slowed movement
Nausea
Impaired attention or ability to focus

The FDA also noted that some meds, such as those for sleep problems, can have side effects that persist the following day. If your senior loved one takes medicines for anxiety, depression, sleep, or pain, they may experience such symptoms.

Cardinale Place's Role in Senior Safety

Our Cambridge, OH, assisted living community, Cardinale Place, can help with senior safety through our reliable transportation services. They (and you, as a loving family member) can rest easy knowing that pro drivers are steering the wheel and putting on the brakes for them.

Minimizing Odds of Missing Crucial Doctor's Appointments

According to WebMD, about one in three older adults visit at least five different types of doctors yearly. The health publication also noted that, per the CDC, adults over 65 see their physicians more than twice as often as those aged 18 to 44. At the very least, seniors, especially those with chronic health conditions, should see their primary care doctor at least once yearly.

Because they need to see doctors more often, older adults may expose themselves to more road hazards if they drive.

Conversely, those without access to a car or elderly mobility services or who can no longer drive may skip their medical visits. Skipping health check-ups comes with risks, too, such as:

Delayed detection of health problems
Worsening or progression of existing health conditions
Missed preventive measures

Cardinale Place can help mitigate the risks of missing or skipping doctor's visits through our assisted living community's transportation services. Our residents can request that we schedule them whenever they need to see their doctor for medical appointments.

Encouraging Social Interaction and Combatting Loneliness

Senior living communities have many onsite amenities and services designed to foster connections among residents and staff. For example, at Cardinale Place in Cambridge, OH, we have:

An activity room for group activities like making art, watching chef demos, and playing cards
A beautiful courtyard for exercise, relaxation, and socialization
A dining room where residents can enjoy nutritious meals and bond with fellow residents over good food
A discovery room for massages and educational courses
A living room for more socialization, entertainment, and recreation

However, we make life even more fun for our senior residents by taking them on outings and community events through our transportation services. We aim to give our senior residents more opportunities to stay social and engaged through these excursions. Our residents can interact with the drivers and their fellow residents during these trips.

Social interaction is a cornerstone of healthy aging because it can help seniors combat loneliness. It also gives them a sense of belonging by allowing them to build new connections, foster existing ones, and enjoy camaraderie.

Reliable Senior Transport Services From Cardinale Place

From helping older adults stay safe while on the road to providing opportunities to socialize, these are just some of the benefits of senior transport services. In our community, Cardinale Place in Cambridge, OH, residents can schedule them whenever they have medical appointments.

So, if you or your loved one needs access to safe transportation solutions while enjoying personalized senior care benefits, we invite you to visit our assisted living community. Call us today to schedule your tour and discover why our top-quality care services and amenities have garnered many positive reviews and five-star ratings.