Your senior loved ones have specific needs that extend to driving. Helping them find senior-friendly vehicles for their retirement will provide them great comfort as well as safety. Remember that any difficulty in reaching or seeing means that a driver is not 100% focused on the road. Although the auto industry does not design cars purpose-built for seniors, they do create vehicles with features that meet the needs of older drivers.
Seniors often develop varying degrees of vision loss due to conditions like glaucoma and cataracts. A car with large instrument panels and dashboard controls, designed with contrasting textures, will be easier for them to drive. Auto-dimming rearview mirrors, extendable sun visors, and glare-reducing side mirrors provide greater safety for seniors with glare sensitivity.
Arthritis often makes gripping and turning painful. Find a vehicle that has light, keyless doors that are easy to operate. A thicker steering wheel, sliding channel gear selector, power mirror and a push-button ignition also help alleviate discomfort.
Knee and hip problems often make entry and exit difficult for seniors. To reduce this, find a car with six-way adjustable seats that can be adjusted forward, backward, up, and down. Opt for cars with low thresholds to reduce climbing difficulty and with a good seat height that won't require too much bending. For a better fit, find vehicles that have tilt and telescoping wheels, heated seats with user-friendly control, and adjustable belts.
Driving requires looking over the shoulder at the rear window every once in a while. However, with aging comes muscle stiffness, so to lessen difficulty, look for a car with a wider rear window for better visibility. Rear-view mirrors, wide-angle side mirrors, back-up cameras, active parallel park assistance, and blind-spot warning systems together alert the driver of things in the way.
Experts have cited certain Subaru models as senior-friendly vehicles, namely: the Impreza, the Legacy, the Outback, and the Forrester. Some of their senior-friendly features include forward collision mitigation systems, lane departure warning, low step-in height, all-wheel drive and traction controls for easy command, tall-boy wagon styling for spacious headroom, and lower center of gravity for better balance and less bounce. Plus, they're pocket-friendly since they're fuel-efficient. You can purchase a Subaru in New Orleans area dealers like Baldwin Subaru.
When shopping, create a list of the features you need so your dealer can help you find the model that best fits your needs. As for financing, some New Orleans, LA Subarudealerships and those in surrounding areas like Baldwin Subaru can help you find auto loan options that fit your budget. If you're not really after brand-new cars, pre-owned cars inspected and certified by an authorizing body are economical and effective alternatives.
Sources:
20 Best Cars For Senior Drivers, Forbes.com
Car Shopping Tips for Older Drivers, The Huffington Post
