The sun is out and the days are stretching longer. Our spirits are lifted and we feel a new kind of lazy summer energy in our bones. It’s time to get outside!
In the 1920s and 1930s when the automobile was used for pleasure (not commuting or running errands), the idea of a Sunday drive was very popular. Taking a slow and meandering drive for no purpose at all was a way to rest and relax. Our elderly seniors grew up in a time when the automobile was new to society and many of them enjoyed this beginning of this Sunday tradition.
Many elderly seniors long to get out and see what is happening in the world. They rely on their loved ones to take the initiative to plan a slow and meandering drive. This can bring a much needed break in their everyday routines. If you love an elderly senior and would like to take them on a Sunday drive, here are some tips to make it fun for everyone:
1. Plan your route. Be sensitive to seniors who may get nauseated with too many curves or bumps in the road. Country roads are beautiful, but they can also be challenging. If you take the back roads, take it slow and easy. Ensure that there is something beautiful to see while you meander along or a view at your destination.
2. Get sentimental. If you can visit familiar haunts, you will open up opportunities for conversations of times past. Driving through a familiar neighborhood or to visit a former home is one way of sparking meaningful conversations.
3. See something that’s new or significant in the area. Your passenger may be very interested in seeing something that is new to the area – like a bridge, highway, development or business. It’s fun to see in person what has been featured on the evening news!
4. Stay hydrated. Bring along lots of water so that your passenger is hydrated in the summer heat. Elderly seniors are at risk of dehydration as they lose the sensation of thirst and can be anxious about getting to the bathroom. Encourage drinking water even if your passenger isn’t thirsty. Dehydration causes symptoms such as dizziness, muscle aches and low blood pressure that can increase the risk of falling and discomfort.
5. Plan bathroom stops. Many seniors decline outings due to concerns that there will not be an easily accessible bathroom. Let your passenger know that you will be stopping for bathroom breaks every 45 – 60 minutes. Ensure that these bathrooms are wheelchair accessible so that they can be accessed rapidly with a walker, wheelchair or supporting arm. Planned bathroom stops will relieve anxiety and increase the likelihood of a senior accepting your invitation.
6. Bring along snacks and pills. Bring along some snacks like fruit, nuts, crackers or cheese. Many seniors take medications and require some food before or after they take their pills. Arrange with their care nurse to bring along medications for the duration of the outing or longer in case of delay. Ease their mind by ensuring that you have planned for their medication routine.
7. Make a plan if you skip a meal. Seniors who live in supportive or assisted living have pre-paid their meals and are often reluctant to miss a meal and lose their money. This can factor in to their willingness to join you on a leisurely outing. See if you can make arrangements with the management of their facility to ensure that the meal will be saved, provided at a different time, enjoyed by a guest or reimbursed.
8. Turn back if it’s too much. Stay in touch with your passenger – ask them if they are feeling tired or if they wish to turn around. Remember, pleasure is the goal. You may have to give up reaching the destination in favor of meeting the needs of your passenger.
9. Don’t take risks. Elderly seniors need their equipment and supports. If your passenger requires a walker, bring the walker! If your passenger tires easily, borrow or rent a wheelchair. Many care facilities have one that you can borrow for this purpose. Do everything you can to avoid exhaustion, a fall, broken bone or ambulance call.
10. Keep the conversation upbeat. Steer the conversation to good times, good memories and blessings that you are currently enjoying. Don’t dismiss health concerns or anxieties, but, if they are not pressing, pursue the positive. Use open-ended questions to invite story-telling, such as: What was it like to grow up in this part of the city? How did you go about purchasing your first home? How did you and your best friend meet? What was it like to own your first car?
11. Treat yourselves! Plan your outing to include something that is pleasantly surprising – like gelato, ice cream, a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a photo at the end of the journey (print and frame for their home). Your passenger will love the surprise and look forward with anticipation at what will come during their outings with you.
12. Go any day of the week, but plan around their routine. Why wait for Sunday? Take a drive any day of the week! Ensure that you plan around the activities that your passenger regularly enjoys and you’ll have a successful leisurely outing!