March 18, 2019

Your senior loved one can no longer drive safely on their own — and yet you know how much they would benefit by being able to get out and about. What can you do to help ensure your loved one is able to travel independently and live life to the fullest, while still remaining safe?

Wouldn’t it be great if your senior loved one had access to a personal driver, who could offer them easy, dependable transportation services? This doesn’t have to be a pipe dream! Here at Companions for Seniors, our trained caregivers can also serve as drivers, offering rides in the comfort, convenience, and safety of an insured, company-owned vehicle.

According to recent reports, about one half of all Americans 65 and older do not have access to public transportation. What’s more, half of all non-drivers who are 65 or older say that they “stay at home” in a given day because “they don’t have transportation options.”

Having access to reliable transportation can help dramatically improve quality of life for older adults. Having a driver as part of your caregiving network can help your aging loved one to:

1.) Connect With Others

Staying social is one of the most important things that older adults can do to protect their long-term health and happiness. Over the years, countless studies and reports have shown that maintaining strong social bonds with friends and peers can help reduce rates of depression and chronic illness for older adults. At the same time, staying socially active has been shown to  increase feelings of happiness and positive self-esteem, while boosting longevity.

When your senior loved one has access to driving services, it’s easier for them to go out and be social. A driver can help transport seniors to card games, volunteer events, group meetings, religious services, and more. At the same time, seniors may benefit from simply having a friendly face that the know and trust behind the wheel, someone they can regularly chat with while running errands or heading to an appointment.

2.) Go On Outings and Adventures

One of the most important ways to promote independence in older adults is to empower them to truly live life to the fullest — and that means going off on adventures! Our lives are enriched and made more vibrant when we get to go to the movies, attend art exhibitions, or spend a few hours at the park or the botanical garden. Outings and day trips can be good for people of all ages, with benefits for the body, the mind, and the soul.

A companion can help coordinate and provide transportation for these outings for your senior loved one, making sure that they’re able to go out and enjoy themselves while still remaining safe, at every step of the way.

3.) Make It to Key Appointments

For many seniors who live alone, making it to doctors’ visits or physical therapy appointments can be tough. It can be tricky to schedule an appointment at a time that works for the senior, the medical professional, and a family caregiver, all at once. It can be frustrating to get all the moving parts to align — and sometimes, seniors may even end up missing appointments, or putting off crucial trips to the doctor altogether.

Having someone available to take your senior loved one to medical appointments can help out seniors, and their family members. A driver can ensure that your aging family member is able to attend routine appointments and stay in tip-top shape, while also being able to get medical treatment right when they need it. This can be a huge relief for family caregivers, who can focus on other important things, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones are getting where they need to be safely and on time, transported by a professional they know and trust.

4.) Run Important Errands

It takes a lot of supplies and services to keep a household running, particularly for older adults who live at home. A companion who offers driving services can assist your senior loved one with all of the errands it takes to keep things moving smoothly, including:

In addition to transporting your senior loved one to stores, a dedicated companion can also help make things easier along the way. For instance, it can be hard for older adults to load and unload groceries, or carry huge bags of plant food out of a store. A companion can help share the load, making sure your loved one gets what they need, without having to struggle.

How Companions for Seniors Can Help

Being able to get out of the house and go out into the community — whether to socialize, run errands, or get things done — can be hugely beneficial for seniors. Here at Companions for Seniors, we make it easier to help your loved one hit the road and connect with the world around them in a healthy and fulfilling way.

Locally owned in Chicago, Illinois, with clients throughout the city and suburbs, our mission is to help seniors maintain their independence and a higher quality of life, while also giving family caregivers the support and respite they need.

Our companions can assist with your aging loved one’s activities of daily living, and provide affordable driving services on a flexible schedule. All of our companions are trained and bonded, and can use an insured, company-owned vehicle to help take your loved one shopping, to doctor’s appointments, or to handle other important errands.

Have any more questions? Curious about what a personalized care plan for your loved one, including transportation services, might look like? Don’t hesitate to get in touch today to get the conversation started!