Safe Transportation For Seniors In Garland

If you’re looking for ways to assist an older loved one, providing a safer mode of transportation is often a good place to start. There are millions of licensed drivers in the United States who are 65 and older, and each year, a percentage of them end up in the ER after a car accident.

Vision, memory, and hearing challenges are all common factors that contribute to a senior’s ability to drive safely. When communities and family caregivers help older people find safe transportation options, they are keeping everyone on the road safer.

Options for Seniors Who Can’t Drive

Garland is near a large metropolitan city (Dallas), where residents are lucky to have access to ride-shares and other transportation options. Here are the main ones available to local seniors and their families:

Local Transportation

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system serves residents of Garland, Texas, to help them get around the city. The two main forms of transportation are buses and light rail. If an older family member is considering public transit, help them figure out the best route in advance. You can view the schedules and routes online here.

DART offers 50 percent off fares for seniors. You can apply for a reduced fare card online.

Ride Shares

A ride-share service allows seniors who are more independent to call for pickup and drop-off at a specific location. They are primarily app-based services, meaning you need to download an app onto your smartphone to arrange for a ride. Using the app, you can easily call for rides, pay drivers, and check your driving routes.

One thing to note about ride-sharing is that the drivers are often residents using personal vehicles to offer rides. Some apps have accessibility limitations.

• Lyft offers wheelchair-accessible rides in Dallas and nearby communities. You can also get an accessible ride in Garland; however, it may take longer to match you with a driver. 
• Uber offers wheelchair-accessible rides. You can request an accessible ride through the app.

Keeping Seniors Safe While Driving

You can’t force someone to stop driving, but there are a few steps you can take to help an elderly driver be safer behind the wheel.

Car Modifications

There are many different ways to modify a car to make it easier and safer for an aging loved one to drive – from steering devices and seat belt adjusters to pedal adaptors and hand controls. Other popular modifications for seniors include blind-spot mirrors to give a fuller view of cars slightly behind you, and seat bars to help seniors get in and out of the car more easily.

Unless you’re a trained car mechanic, you shouldn’t make car modifications yourself. Take your parent’s or grandparent’s car to a custom mechanic and ask them to help you with the desired upgrades or modifications.

Driving Skill Tests

The state of Texas does not require specialized driving tests for senior drivers. However, if your loved one has a medical condition that could affect their driving, they might have to undergo a medical evaluation to continue driving legally. These evaluations may include doctor reports or a skills test to ensure an individual is safe to drive.

Other Transportation Considerations

Even if an aging loved one is legally allowed to drive and is relatively safe, their families may still worry about them driving alone. Beyond the physical act of driving, consider these questions when weighing the best transportation options for them.

• Why does your loved one want or need to drive? Have an open conversation with them about why they want to drive. For lots of older folks, driving gives them a sense of independence. If they can’t drive, they fear they won’t have the freedom to go places when they want.
• Are there closer (or virtual) options? If the person insists on driving, encourage them to keep their travel local. If they have to attend a meeting or an appointment, determine whether a virtual meeting from home is a possibility. If not, make sure they are opting for the destination closest to their home.
• Can goods be delivered to them? Nowadays, nearly everything can be delivered. Consider setting up grocery deliveries through services such as Instacart and having prescriptions delivered from pharmacies like CVS.

How Visiting Angels Can Help

Visiting Angels is an at-home care agency that helps seniors in the Garland, Texas, area age safely in place. Our primary goal is to assist older seniors with routine tasks like light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparation, and basic companionship. While we’re not a transportation service, our caregivers can provide local transportation for clients who need to get to appointments or pick up medications.

Contact us any time to learn more about our care services. Our team is happy to discuss the many ways our caregivers help senior clients lead safe, independent lives at home.