What To Do If Aggressive Holiday Traffic Is Overwhelming Your Elderly Parents

It can be overwhelming for elderly parents to deal with aggressive holiday traffic in Waynesboro. With the hustle and bustle of the season, the roads become busier and more chaotic, frustrating seniors. Here are some tips on how adult children can help elderly parents manage the aggressive holiday traffic to ensure they stay safe.

Avoid Weekend Driving

Most people embark on road trips, run errands, or shop during the weekends, and the roads can be extremely busy. The heavy Laurel traffic and road rage make it hard for seniors to navigate the roads and parking lots as people mill around. Elderly parents should avoid driving during this time.

Drive Together During Holiday Shopping

Constant honking and heavy traffic during the holiday can overwhelm seniors while driving. As such, it might help to have their adult children co-drive with them. Driving together can help elderly loved ones stay calm and feel less anxious while driving.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is essential for elderly parents during the holidays. During this time, Collins has heavy traffic as everyone is moving from one place to another or shopping. Seniors should avoid the busiest times of the day, such as during rush hour. With the help of their adult children, they can research less busy routes and plan for any detours or alternative routes that may be needed in case of traffic jams.

Additionally, since the local weather conditions during this time might slow them down, planning to travel a couple of hours earlier gives the senior parents plenty of extra time to navigate the roads, making them less stressed and hurried while driving.

Modify Your Elderly Parents' Car to Improve Comfort and Safety

Being comfortable while driving is important for several reasons. First, it is important for the driver's safety. If a driver is not comfortable while driving, they may be more easily distracted or less able to react quickly in a potentially dangerous situation. In addition, being comfortable while driving can help reduce stress and fatigue, which can improve overall driving performance. So, the more comfortable seniors are while driving, the more will be their ability to drive safely.

The following are ways adult children can adapt their elderly parents' cars for comfort and safety during the holiday:

• Attach blind spot mirrors to the vehicle's side mirror for extra visibility.
• Install parking sensors. Staying in traffic for long can numb the seniors' limbs or make them stiff, making parallel parking difficult. Parking sensors make parallel parking easier by detecting reverse crashes.
• Install pedal extenders. These allow seniors to drive while sitting at a safe distance from the steering wheel, especially when they experience muscle weakness in their legs after staying in traffic for a long time.
• Install seat belt reacher handlers for comfort. These handlers help elderly loved ones buckle up without overextending their shoulders.
• Install swivel seats. These seats make it easier for seniors to get in and out of the car without losing balance.

Enjoy Custom In-Home Senior Care Services by Senior Helpers Hattiesburg

Looking for someone to help a senior loved one with daily tasks like grocery shopping during this holiday season? Senior Helpers Hattiesburg has compassionate caregivers experienced in senior care. They can help run errands for elderly parents, reducing their need to drive during the aggressive holiday traffic in Poplarville, Wiggins, Sumrall, Ellisville, New Augusta, and the neighboring towns. Contact us to learn more about the care plans that your elderly parents may benefit from.