Community Chat

[SharkE]

Did you offer to drive him to church and pick him up?

[Ghee Buttersnaps]

You did the right thing OP.  My father is getting up there in age and has cataracts, so he has trouble with glare while driving at night.  He also seems uneasy with driving the last few years.  I fear that the time is soon approaching that we'll have to take the keys away.  Don't want anything to happen to him or others.  More people should do this.  Or after a certain age, the State should have protocols whereby they require a yearly assessment of person's ability to drive.  How many times have we seen an elderly person mow people down or drive into a convenience store.  I realize people under the influence are a bigger hazard, but that doesn't mean age related deficiencies shouldn't be monitored also.

[Sister Golden Hair]

That was a sad day when I had to take away my dear Mother's keys.

When I saw the red stripe down the side of her silver car, I knew it was time.

She didn't remember a thing.

My Mother lived 60 miles from us, so in the summer our two sons would go to visit for a couple of weeks.

I didn't find this out till just a couple of years ago but when our sons would visit, our oldest son (15 at the time) would drive (just around their small town) because he said that his Granny scared him.

Our sons are 34 and 30 now but I'm glad I didn't know.

[ChynnaBlue]

That must have been really difficult, but good for you. I guess it's like when parents told us they were doing things for our own good. I live in Texas and my parents are in California and I hate being so far away from them because of things like this.

[Winifred]

I was one of those super nervous as my Dad was developing Dementia - I did NOT want to be the one who pulled his chain and I wasn't. He himself decided to give it up - always said I had one smart Dad. I was sure sweating it however. He fought in three wars, WWII, Korea and Nam - and he was smartest man I ever knew. This only proved it even more. He was buried on his 90th BD.

[January121]

It was a difficult thing to do but, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!!!! .... you are protecting him from hurting himself or hurting someone else .... good luck to you and your dad!

[Pqfan]

@Plaid Pants2 I teared up when I read this. I know these things aren't easy.

Bless you for protecting him.

[estaw2000]

I am very surprised that so many adult children are so quick to say it's ok to stop a parent from driving. I'm a whole lot more worried about 16 year old drivers than I am 85+ drivers. I rarely hear of older folks having terrible accidents & young people it's super common!

[JustJazzmom]

The newspapers are full of articles of accidents with elderly who hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal than they are of teens driving recklessly.

[SharkE]

Not as likely to be texting, drinking and not paying attention. Dancing around to music,  etc