What should you look for when choosing a car for the elderly?
Cars come in all shapes and sizes, but some are perfectly suited for an elderly person.
Elderly drivers can get specially adapted cars to accommodate physical, sensory, and cognitive changes, ensuring safer and more comfortable driving. These adaptations, like swivel seats and assistive controls, help maintain independence and reduce driving strain. Some good things to look out for are:
Cars for older drivers
Take a look at some examples of cars adapted for the elderly:
Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz offers a high seating position and large doors for easy entry and exit. It’s compact, making it easy to park and manoeuvre, and has excellent visibility. It includes a Magic Seat system and a Honda Sensing safety suit with lane-keeping assistance and collision mitigation braking.
Ford Puma
Known for its elevated driving position and comfortable ride, the Ford Puma is easy to drive and handles well on British roads. Its compact size is ideal for urban driving. It includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering and good fuel efficiency, along with an easy-to-use infotainment system.
Toyota Yaris Cross
A crossover version of the Yaris, it’s easy to get in and out of, with a high driving position and Toyota’s reputation for reliability. It also offers a smooth hybrid drive for fuel efficiency. Included within this car is a Toyota Safety Sense, high visibility, compact size for city driving and comfortable seating.
Skoda Kamiq
The Skoda Kamiq combines a raised seating position with a spacious interior. It’s easy to handle and has a reputation for reliability and affordability. It includes some advantaged safety features, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, alongside comfortable seating with straightforward controls.
Kia Soul
With a higher seating position, the Kia Soul’s compact size makes it easy to park and manoeuvre in urban settings. It has user-friendly controls, and advanced safety features like lane-keeping assistance and forward collision avoidance to make this even more reliable for elder drivers.
Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona offers a high driving position and supportive seating, making it comfortable for long drives. It also comes in petrol, hybrid, and electric options, providing flexibility in fuel choice. It includes the Hyundai SmartSense safety package, a great infotainment system and excellent visibility.
Volkswagen T-roc
Known for its high driving position and its comfortable and spacious interior, the T-Roc is easy to get in and out of and provides a smooth, stable ride for elderly drivers. It’s also packed with technology and safety features like adaptive cruise control, ergonomic controls, blind-spot monitoring and easy-to-read displays.
Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX-3 combines a compact design with a high driving position and a stylish, comfortable interior. It’s nimble, with smooth handling, making it easy to drive and park. It has the i-Activsense safety suit which includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and supportive seats.
Cars for transporting elderly people
Other cars well equipped to care for elderly people as passengers.
Some other examples include:
Wheelchair supported cars
Rear passenger access
A rear passenger wheelchair-accessible vehicle is outfitted with a ramp or a lift to support a wheelchair user to enter and exit the rear of a vehicle where they will be a passenger. The ramp or lift is situated at the side or back of the vehicle and may include a mechanised winch to support the wheelchair on entry or exit. Some even have the floor lowered to create additional internal space for the wheelchair.
Upfront passenger access
Upfront passenger wheelchair-accessible vehicles are adapted to accommodate a wheelchair user by removing the front passenger seat and lowering the floor of the vehicle. This reduces awkward overhead confinement and allows the wheelchair user to sit next to the driver in relative comfort and security. Some are modified with mechanised entry assistance to allow easier entrance into the vehicle.
Driver access
Also referred to as Drive from Wheelchair Vehicles or DFW, these vehicles undergo specific modifications and alterations for a wheelchair user to drive in both safety and comfort. The vehicle is adapted through measurements of the wheelchair and its user, so the wheelchair remains anchored while in motion and the user can reach all necessary controls with ease, without leaving their wheelchair.
Internal transfer access
An internal transfer wheelchair-accessible vehicle is adapted with a rotation-controlled driver’s seat. This allows the wheelchair user to transfer from the wheelchair to the driver’s seat unaided while inside the vehicle. The wheelchair is stored in the back of the adapted vehicle and the wheelchair user can then transfer from the wheelchair into the driver’s seat with the assistance of a swivel base seat by remote control.
More care advice with Helping Hands
Helping Hands can offer expert care that tailors around your situation.
At Helping Hands, we can offer bespoke live-in care or visiting care to tailor to your unique needs. Whether that’s helping around the house or simply being a companion, we can be a huge help with our elderly care. We can help with fall and trip prevention, creating a daily routine or helping with discreet needs like dressing and toileting. We also offer superb condition-led care with our expertly trained staff. Being in your twilight years is something to celebrate, and our carers will help you get the best quality of life possible within your own home.
A fully regulated home care provider
Here at Helping Hands, our service is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
This means we need to consistently meet high standards and are monitored by our regulators.
