Your senior may have resisted exercise in the past, but if she knew that it could keep her in the driver’s seat of her car longer, do you think she might have a change of heart? Always check with your senior’s doctor about what type and amount of exercise is right for her before she starts any new programs.

Exercises to Build Her Strength

Strength and muscle tone are a huge concern for older adults, but they’re especially important if your elderly family member is planning to continue to drive. She needs to be able to manage the car and control it, which is going to require a basic amount of strength. Core strength will help her more than she realizes with driving, too, especially when she needs to turn to look over her shoulder.

Balance Exercises

Balance is another big part of continuing to be able to drive. Your elderly family member needs to be able to maintain her balance on her feet, of course, but it pays off in the car, too. If she’s feeling unstable, that can cause her to make some iffy decisions behind the wheel and she may even find herself to be more disoriented than she realizes.

Range of Motion Exercises

If your elderly family member has any difficulty with range of motion, then exercises that focus on improving range of motion can help her to be a safer driver. Even small activities while driving, like checking her blind spots, can be difficult for your senior. Focus on the areas of her body that have the least range of motion and gradually work to improve that throughout her body.

Flexibility Exercise

Flexibility is slightly different from range of motion, even though on the surface they seem the same. Flexibility is going to enable your senior to be able to get more comfortable in the car and to sit in her seat properly for the time that she’s driving. Flexibility is also going to factor into her being able to get into and out of the car more easily, even when her mobility is challenged in other ways.

There may come a point where your senior just isn’t able to keep driving. Having an alternative for her is crucial. Senior care providers are one of the best choices because they can help her with other situations as well as making sure she’s able to go where she needs and wants to go.

If you are considering Senior Care Services in Mansfield OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.  Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Ontario and the surrounding areas.

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Stephen Sternbach

CEO at Central Star Home Health Services

With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sternbach has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Star Multi Care Services since 1987. After the sale of the New York and New Jersey operations of Star Multi Care Services, Sternbach brought the company private where he remains President and CEO of this 40-million dollar company. With Sternbach at the helm, Star Multi Care Services employs more than 650 employees, in six offices throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

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