Inexpensive, aftermarket gadgets can help older drivers

Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any specific auto gadgets you can recommend that can help senior drivers? Both of my parents are in their 80s and still pretty good drivers, but due to arthritis and age they’re very stiff, which causes them some driving problems. — Researching Daughter

Dear Researching: To help keep senior drivers safe and prolong their driving years, there are a plethora of inexpensive, aftermarket vehicle adaptions you can purchase that can easily be added to your parent’s vehicles to help with many different needs. Here are some good options.

Entry and exit aids

To help arthritic/mobility challenged seniors with getting into and out of their vehicle, there are a variety of portable support handles you can buy, such as the Emson Car Cane Portable Handle ($12), which inserts into the U-shaped striker plate on the doorframe. And the Standers CarCaddie ($13) nylon support handle that hooks around the top of the door window frame.

Another useful product is the DMI Deluxe Swivel Seat Cushion ($22), which is a round portable cushion that turns 360 degrees to help drivers and passengers rotate their body into and out of their vehicle.

Enhanced rear vision

To help seniors with limited upper-body range of motion, which makes looking over their shoulder to back up or merge into traffic difficult, there are special mirrors you can add as well as backup cameras.

For starters, to widen rear visibility, eliminate blind spots and even help with parallel parking, get an oversized rearview mirror such as the Allview Rearview Mirror ($50) that clips on to the existing mirror. You should also purchase some Ampper Blind Spot Mirrors ($7.50), which are 2-inch adjustable convex mirrors that stick to the corner of the side-view mirrors.

Another helpful device is the Auto-vox M1W Wireless Backup Camera Kit ($110). This comes with a night-vision camera that attaches to the rear license plate and a small monitor that mounts to the dash or windshield. When the vehicle is in reverse, it sends live images wirelessly to the monitor so you can see what’s behind you.

Seat belt extenders

To make buckling up a little easier, there are a variety of seat belt extension products offered by Seat Belt Extender Pros such as the Seat Belt Grabber Handle ($8), which is a rubber extension handle that attaches to the seat belt strap to make it easier to reach. And the 7-inch Rigid Seat Belt Extender ($20) that fits into the seat belt buckle receiver to add a few inches of length, making it easier to fasten.

Gripping devices

If your parents have hand arthritis that makes gripping the steering wheel, turning the ignition key or twisting open the gas cap difficult or painful, consider these products.

The SEG Direct Steering Wheel Cover ($15) that fits over the steering wheel to make it larger and easier to grip. The Ableware Hole-inOne Key Holder ($9), which is a small plastic handle that attaches to the car key to provide additional leverage to turn the key in the ignition or door. And for help at the pump, the Gas Cap & Oil Cap Opener by Gascapoff ($12) is a long-handled device that works like a wrench to loosen and tighten the gas cap.

All of these products can be found at amazon.com. Just type the product name in the search bar to find them.

Safety and security

To help ensure your parents’ safety, and provide you and them peace of mind, they should also consider an in-car medical alert system such as splitsecnd. Offered through Bay Alarm Medical (bayalarmmedical.com, $30/month), this small device plugs into the vehicle’s cigarette lighter to provide 24/7 roadside and emergency assistance at the push of a button, automatic crash detection and response, and GPS vehicle location and monitoring capabilities.