Parking and the elderly

I suppose because I had to fight tooth and nail for a blue badge for my 90 year old father who was confused/unsteady/extremely frail and it was more than galling to see people with BBs bound out of their cars and walk quickly. He liked being "taken out", but often could not manage the additional walk from a "normal" parking spot.

We could be talking about having asthma, or a heart condition, or neurological conditions, that of course, none of which you can obviously see, hence calling them hidden disabilities. Who has said that they have more merit, than 'unsteadiness on feet/confusion/general frailty if a 90 year old? Old age, in of itself, is not a disability, of course. The elderly gentleman in the OP post, was in receipt of a BB, quite rightly, and that should not be left unchallenged.

@emuloc but what type of hidden disabilities are we talking about and why do they have more merit than unsteadiness on feet/confusion/general frailty if a 90 year old?

On what planet are the elderly bottom of the pecking order in this country?
They are perhaps not absolute priority for everything (like parking spaces). Thats life.

I wasn't agreeing at the spaces needing to be at the front @Awkwardisfunny, I was just pointing out that it isn't a lead, as it sounded connected to a dog, and stating that parents have always been able to use them. Dm used them on my sibling, as he was an incredibly hyperactive child. It wouldn't have mattered where we parked tbh the kid was feral (not a dog though) 😉.

I reckon you’ve hit the nail on the head here. Elderly people are bottom of the pecking order. A poster upthread said elderly people have all the time in the world and should go to the supermarket at quiet times when they aren’t as likely to inconvenience all those busy parents with their busy lives, by parking in the parent and child spaces. Elderly people have lives/routines too. And so do their carers, who are often time constrained due to multiple commitments.

If I had dropped my mum at the front of a shopping centre when she was in her late eighties, she’d have been halfway to Timbuktu by the time I came back!

This. My relative with a blue badge lives an hour and a half away via busy motorways (so significantly longer if I tried to drive it in rush hour after work) and I work 9-5. If I am going to take her shopping, it’s on a Saturday or Sunday along with everyone else who works similar hours.

Also generally speaking elderly can shop in the day at less busy times so could park close whereas usually young families are both working hence prime time shopping

nope. I am working. When do you think i can take my mum shopping?
I get it. People with young children are to be prioritised at all times. Nobody else matters.

well my mum would wander off and it would take ages to find her then she would be embarassed and confused and stressed. So no, many people simply cannot do that.

but it's ok - they are only elderly. They don't matter having outlived their usefulness.

They may appear fit to you, but who knows what could be going on with them inside. It is called hidden disabilities, and needs to be more understood by the general public, imo.

Do not use p&c as its not needed.
Just drop him off at entrance and park up.

What would be a good design is drop off areas with seating etc.

Realistically would a wheelchair not be better at his age if he cant even cross a car park?

But i do think it is a question because seems like a lot more elderly are at home rather than care home nowadays.

Also generally speaking elderly can shop in the day at less busy times so could park close whereas usually young families are both working hence prime time shopping. And often arent taking babies out at 6pm etc as they are in bed. google can tell you when stores are less busy.

Also i think some of the issue is a BB allows parking on double yellow or some restricted places which then causes traffic issues. If all over 80s could do this…

We do have similar issues with my parents especially my mum. I would say she needs the BB and would previously have had one.
Making the cars so wide your average person can hardly get out doesnt help!

So why is it then, that SO many frail, elderly people (I’m talking in their 90s here; not fit 70s) cannot get one?
Like OP, I speak from bitter experience

And yet there are lots of physically fit people who have them?

You qualify for a Blue Badge on <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&rct=j&url=www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge&ved=2ahUKEwi3hsbLt8OXAxX1gv0HHaOHOXIQy_kOegoIAggACAAIAxAD&opi=89978449&cd&psig=AOvVaw0ClHr0-O9nq0OmZi-rpgU7&ust=1792408355128000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GOV.UK either automatically (without further assessment) or through a discretionary assessment by your local council, depending on your disability or health condition. 1, 2, 3]
Automatic Eligibility (No Further Assessment)

You qualify automatically if you are aged 3 or over and meet specific criteria, such as receiving the Higher Rate DLA mobility component, scoring 8+ points for 'moving around' or 10 points for descriptor E under 'planning and following journeys' in PIP, being registered blind, receiving a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement, or having received a relevant lump sum under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme with a permanent walking impairment. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

You are being really selective in your assessment. You have failed to mention that there is a number of automatic criteria for eligibility for Blue Badges.

Its good yours has one.

The one at our nearest is usually full of parked cars. The lastest being the "doordash", "ubereats" etcstyle drivers.

Lots of “MAY be eligible” in that guideline… so basically at the discretion of the individual council

The drop off space.

It's unlikely that a supermarket with it's own car park large enough to have parent/child spaces wouldn't have a drop off space near the entrance.

Lots of elderly/disabled people can't drive & rely on taxis.

Supermarket manager - every one of our car parks have one. It's essential accessibility/reasonable adjustment for elderly & disabled people. If there's parent/child spaces there will also be a safe drop off area.

Appeal the blue badge decision, it sounds ridiculous. In the meantime, park in the p&c spaces, I say this as someone with 3 kids still in car seats.

Can you not drop him at the door and then go and park up? Definitely challenge the blue badge but I don’t think it’s fair to park in spaces that are allocated for something else and also in short supply. Although I do wish that P and C spaces were further away (with a walkway) to stop people abusing them

Yes that’s my point… but OP’s father, despite having the above, cannot obtain a BB

You will see from my previous posts that I’m on OP’s side!

There’s so much ignorance on this thread about who is eligible for a Blue Badge so I thought it might be helpful to post the Government criteria here.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-badge-can-i-get-one/can-i-get-a-blue-badge#people-who-automatically-get-a-blue-badge

Ah good so no barriers then to parking a bit further away if needed.

What planet are you on?

Frail, elderly, issues with balance?

Completely, this man may be vulnerable and need a carer with him all of the time. If that was an option than I'm sure op would be doing it, but why should she have to regardless.