How to Keep Your Elderly Loved One’s Car in Good Driving Condition

Home Care Broomall PA

It is car care month and that means taking care of not only your car, but also the one that your elderly loved one uses. In some cases, this may mean that your loved one isn’t necessarily the one driving, but if this is the car that she’s in most often, it pays to keep it in good condition.

Windshields
Keep your loved one’s front and back windshields clean so that they’re not obstructed. Side windows should get cleaned regularly, too, so that they don’t obstruct your loved one’s view from any angle in the car. An often overlooked problem can be faulty windshield wipers. It’s easy to forget about them when they’re not in use, so be sure to check them regularly and swap them out every six months or so.

Lights and Signals
Windows and windshields are pretty obvious when they’re dirty, but did you know that the lights and signals on your loved one’s car can become less effective when they’re dirty? Check them over to make sure there’s no debris stuck in cracks around the lights and signals, then give them a good cleaning. While you’re there, check all of the lights and signals to make sure none need replacing or repairing.

Tires
Tire pressure can fluctuate much more quickly than you might expect. Newer cars use a TPMS system, or a tire pressure monitoring system, to alert drivers to variations in normal air pressure. This is a great warning system while your loved one is out and about, but it’s no substitute for regular tire pressure maintenance. Try to check air pressure at least once a month to make sure that they have the correct inflation.

Oil and Fluids
Oil and fluids are what keep your loved one’s car lubricated and functioning properly. Check the oil regularly using the dipstick and check other fuel levels at least twice a month. Don’t forget to include fluids like windshield washer fluid in that check. It’s an easy one to forget, but it’s important because it helps to keep the windshield clear and improve visibility.

Belts
When you check the fluids, give the belts in the engine a good once-over. You want to look for any cracks or signs of wear in the belts. This is particularly important if the car uses only one belt, also called a serpentine belt. If any belts seem worn or loose, it’s time to replace them.

Battery
Without the battery, your loved one’s car is going to have a very tough time starting and you don’t want that. It’s easy enough to do a visual inspection on the battery while you’re under the hood checking the fluids. Look at the battery terminals to make sure that they’re clean and that the cables are securely attached. A couple of times a year it’s a good idea to take the car to a mechanic or even to an auto parts store and to have the battery tested.

Keeping your loved one’s car in good condition means that whether she drives it or her home care providers drive her to wherever she needs to go the car is safe and ready at a moment’s notice.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home Home Care in Broomall PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.

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Perry C. Doc Alleva, Owner & Administrator

Owner & Administrator at True Direct Home Health Care

True Direct HHC owner and administrator, Perry C. Doc Alleva has been in the health care community for over 10 years as a therapy solutions provider, as well as a home care services coordinator. He has extensive experience in caring for the disabled and the surgical acute, sub-acute, and rehab population. Rooted in his home-town city of Philadelphia, with strong ties to it's vast neighborhoods and communities, he's now focusing all his energies towards innovating the home health care agency's role in providing the essential care needed from individual to the family throughout the community.

Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.

"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."

In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.

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