What Do You Do When Driving is no Longer an Option?

 

Dear Abby is alive and well, and still offering up tried and true advice that makes us nod our heads in approval.

 

A very wise son (Carl in California) wrote in to share a plan that he came up with when his mother was no longer able to drive.

 

Of course, mom was devastated when it became apparent that it was no longer safe for her to be behind the wheel.  His solution was to sell her car and put that money in an interest bearing account.  He then contracted with a local cab company to provide transportation for his mother whenever she wanted to go somewhere.  Instead of charging her a fee per use, they billed the son (including the gratuity so that she didn’t have to worry about giving a tipping).  In addition, they agreed to carry packages and groceries to her door or to wait for her if she was just making a short trip.

 

Needless to say this was a huge success and she was able to share rides with her friends too.  Hopefully many readers will buy into this idea and consider doing something this thoughtful and practical for their favorite seniors. 

 

I think we all know how hard it is to be house bound.  I know I have separation anxieties when my car is the body shop for an afternoon of maintenance, so I can appreciate the idea of being at someone else’s mercy every time I want to go somewhere.  It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you don’t need to go anywhere in particular; it is just the idea that you can’t that is bothersome.