Over the years, seniors experience a gradual decline in their physical and mental performance. While there is no getting around this fact, the rate at which this decline occurs isn’t etched in stone. The following suggestions will slow this decline and extend a senior’s ability to drive safely for many more years.
Engage in Brain Training
For most of their lives, people constantly learn. The infant and small child must learn to speak and interact with others. From there until their twenties, they go to schools and colleges to get their education. Then they must adapt to the demands of careers. However, all of this suddenly ends upon retirement. How does a senior stay mentally fit? By doing brain training, and the best way to start is taking a brain training course. These are available online and as downloadable apps. Here is additional information about why brain training helps seniors.
Learn New Skills
Forcing the brain to rewire itself to form new connections keeps it young. There are many ways of doing this. For example one can:
- Learn to play a musical instrument.
- Become more ambidextrous by relearning common tasks with your subordinate hand.
- Play video games. Video games demand intense focus and improve eye-hand coordination — both of which improve your driving. A side benefit is more quality time spent with your grand children.
Exercise
Driving requires a minimal amount of muscular strength, speed, and flexibility. This is especially true when making evasive maneuvers to avoid a crash. Quick braking requires fast movement of the leg and foot to reach the brake pedal from the accelerator. Hard braking with ABS also requires firm foot pressure on the brakes.
Keep your legs fit and improve your aerobic health by walking several times a week. The improved aerobic health also improves brain function. Exercise your muscles with light weights to increase muscular strength. See your doctor before engaging in an exercise program.
Drive Safely
Brush up on your driving skills by taking a driver improvement course for seniors. Then put it into practice during good weather days when traffic is light.
If you or a senior in your family suffered an injury in a car crash, we can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.