Thursday, June 16, 2011
Most of us with aging relatives will eventually face the “how do we stop them from driving” problem. To many people, driving a car equals independence. One reason for that is the lack of convenient public transportation in much of our country. Very large American cities such as New York, ...
This is a helpful sharepost, Carol. I like the point about how driving is often the elder person's means for socialization. My mother, before she moved in with us, was often driving herself and her friends (who no longer drove themselves) to all kinds of events. She was a good driver! But she had had seizures and so was persuaded to relinquish her driving, out of concern for others whom she might have injured in an accident.
Once she gave up her driving, her whole lifestyle had to change, because there was no one living with her. It was a hard decision - selling her home and moving in with us - but a necessary one.
I like the idea of hiring people to do driving, but often the insurance costs for professional drivers skyrocket, because they are driving elderly people, and they have to pass that cost on to their clients. Calling upon friends works, as long as the friends are good drivers. I think the vans sent around by social services agencies are godsends to people who have to get to their doctors and other appointments and who have no other means of transport or family around to assist them.
Driving is indeed the primary link to socialization, and it's a necessary one.
Thanks for the great commentary!
CJ
You're welcome, CJ. Thanks, as always for your valuable input.
Blessings,
Carol