This is an actual headline in the Seattle Times.


I'm speechless.

You're not supposed to hit any pedals in the car wash. You put it in neutral and the machine does the rest.

Sadly she is very old and many elderly drivers put peoples lives in danger. It's is tough to give up your freedom, but many should not be driving.

My wifes grandfather was like this. He had very poor leg circulation so he never new if he was hitting the brake or the gas. One day my brother in law was driving in Seattle and some idiot was driving the wrong way down a one way street. Turned out to be our Gramps.

When the family finally had to take his car away from him he got very angry. The next day when nobody was watching he snuck out the back door, broke a fence down, went to the nearest dealership and bought a new car.

Any pictures?

that sucks. i heard a story the other day from a friend about an elderly relative who was leaving the gas station and pulled out into traffic a narrowly missing several cars. He claims that something would not allow him to press the brake. In fact he temorarily forgot how to stop his car. luckily he lived up the road and managed to get home without incident. he walked in the house and tore up his license. i think the fella was about 90, but at least he knew what had to be done after something like that. others refuse to give up their right to drive when they know damn well they are a danger. its a freedom they dont want to lose

The same kind of thing happened with my (step?) grandfather. Except he escaped and took the riding lawnmower out for a joy ride. We had to corner him on the main drag of our tiny town. Hillarity insued, good times were had by all.

My car got hit a couple weeks ago by an elderly lady confusing the gas with the brakes. Luckily, she hit my exhaust pipe and the only damage done was to her car .

Sometimes I fantasize about having everyone above 60 years old being stripped of their driver's license.

Phew!

I am glad you finished that sentance with driver's license.

I used to work at a retirement home, and it was scary to think that some of the frail old people that lived there actually drove. I think once you are 65 you should have to take your drivers test annually.

It's really very sad that people lose the ability to do things and to take care of themselves near the ends of their lives. My grandfather is 98 years old, and he lvies in Florida with his wife, who is about 86 or 87. They live in a condo on their own, with someone who comes in a few times a week to help them with shopping and cleaning and things like that. They haven't driven for a few years now, but they walked quite a bit, and until recently, they've both played golf a couple of times a week.

But things have been changing in the last year or two. My grandfather is getting physically frail. He doesn't walk very well, he has lost much of his hearing, and I'm pretty sure he can't play golf anymore. But he has a very strong and sharp mind, which is obvious everytime I talk on the phone with him. His wife on the other hand is quite fit for a woman her age, she was a dancer and a "health nut" back before physical fitness became in vogue. But she is quickly slipping into Alzheimer's dementia, and is losing the ability to take care of herself or him in any way.

Last week, she had a fall, and he was unable to help her up. They had to wait for help to arrive to get her off the floor, thankfully she was not badly injured. However, it brought into sharp focus the fact that they can no longer live together in their home the way they have for the past twenty years. In fact, since my grandmother died in 1984, the two of them have travelled the world visiting dozens of countries including India, China, Borneo, the Galapagos twice, and all seven continents including Antarctica. Now my father and the other children are making arrangements for her to move to an assisted living facility near her son in Ft. Lauderdale, and my grandfather will be taking what will likely be his final airplane trip up to New York to live near my father and aunt. It's very sad that they will have to separate like this, but unfortunately, within a few months, it is likely that she won't even know who he is anymore.

These are two people who have lead long and extraordinarily exciting lives. They have children who love them, and who are fortunate enough to have the means to care for them with the absolute best care available. And yet, it is still a very sad ending to the story.

I've always been an advocate of making senior citizens continually earn their driving priviledges, but I hope that this story in some way shows the sadness that accompanies the loss of ability that all people who live to such a ripe age have to experience.

--PunkDavid

I've found that assisted living facilities are doing a lot to create situations where elderly can live with a lot of dignity. They wrap around a lot of services, while leaving those living there with a lot of options. My grandmother-in-law is in a place where the most attractive service is on-site medical assistance that can be at any apartment on campus in seconds. She has her own kitchen and laundry room, but can access a cafeteria or laundry services on a one-time only basis if she's having a tough day. That way, things are being taken away from her, b/c the next day when she wants to do her own laundry, she can.

Giving up her car was tough, but they also have a shuttle that can be scheduled for travel if needed, so she maintains some semblence of freedom to roam.

With the huge rise in seniors, there are a lot of intermediate steps between independent living and rest homes.

There's one here in Chapel Hill with an on-site preschool that is staffed by residents. Lots of interaction with kids, parents, and families and they get to continue to work if they want.

Not everywhere. My father isn't that senior yet (he's 72 years old), but he's in a full-fledged nursing home right now (alzheimer's dimentia) because it was the only option that is near my parents' home. Not only that, but a lot of the intermediate care facilities are extremely expensive. I realize part of that blame goes to my father, who planned poorly for his future and didn't prepare for what the future would hold. But I can't help but think that he's in a situation that a lot of other people find themselves in...faced with the reality that they're no longer as free as they used to be, and not being able to do a damn thing about it. And due to circumstances (poor planning, lack of options, etc), they find that their freedom's disappear at a very quick pace.

I used to work at a carwash a couple years back. Old people would hit the gas all the time while going through these things..old people and really stupid people.

Yeah, well if you're gonna plug money and location into the equation ... then I guarantee nothing.

Those are a couple of pretty important factors. They indicate the disparity between "options" and "realistic options".

I've never been responsible for anyone's care, so I've never researched options, prices, etc. All I can share is options that I've seen in passing. I hope people have a shot at similar services.

A few years ago I was eating at a McDonald's when an elderly man put his car into drive, rather than reverse and jumped the curb and drove through the front window of the restaurant. Luckily no one was hurt, but that was pretty wild.