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Should you be driving at 102 years of age?
Granny and Barney lived together and unaided right up until they both passed away. Gran in 2017 at 106, Barney a year later at 98. As much as we tried to assist, they fought for independence. On occasion they would allow the driver to fetch and carry them. If we delivered homemade food – it often went uneaten. They preferred to cook themselves! The only things they treasured were memories, time with family and their independence.
But we needed to have ‘ the talk’ with them about a serious problem! Barney was medically blind in one eye, and totally COLOUR blind in both. He could not get his driving license renewed. Gran was deaf in one ear, and partially deaf in the other. Her deaf ear was on the side that Barney spoke into, if he was driving!
Yes … they insisted on driving! Mainly to the store to get groceries and the shopping centre for medication. Try as we did, we could not get them to stay home. They were both financially independent, and we had zero leverage.
It was time for the talk!
“Barney – you’ve got to stop driving, it’s dangerous”, my wife would plead.
Barney would look at her lovingly and say, “I know I should … want a cup of tea my…
