Parking and the elderly

If the BB holder is not blind and not physically disabled, how do they qualify for a BB in the first place?

People do seem to get a bit worked up about others using parent and child spaces when they haven’t any children with them. But they are there as a courtesy and there is no law tied to their use, so really anyone can use them. I think it’s pretty selfish if someone perfectly able bodied, unaccompanied by children, simply wants to save themselves a walk. But it’s still not illegal. I honestly think that in the case of a 93 year old man with mobility problems (or indeed any 93 year old!) someone would have to be an absolute shit to begrudge him a parent and child space. Honestly, I would park there if I was you, and let the man enjoy his shopping trip. You must be very patient and lovely to facilitate this for him.

Would you say that if he were a child? Some older people get confused ( but still enjoy a shopping trip)

You mean reins? They've always had those.

But you could apply the same logic to those with hidden disabilities who have a blue badge

And why should an elderly person have an online shop? Maybe, just maybe they derive pleasure from choosing items themselves and buying treats on impulse

You can change your vote if it's still open.

I’d use (and have used) a P&C space. I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at someone with limited mobility/a disability using one. I chose to have children, people don’t choose to be disabled/have limited mobility.

Depending on their capacity, I wouldn’t be dropping them off at the entrance either, my grandmother wouldn’t have coped well at all being left on her own at the doors but taking her out to get some shopping and having a coffee & lunch was the only semblance of her pre-dementia life and she enjoyed it, so if it meant parking in P&C, so be it 🤷🏻‍♀️

ETA; this is where reigns for toddlers come in handy. They’re a Godsend for car parks.

They have leads for that now.

I agree. I understand parents needing wider spaces but why do these need to be close to the supermarket? Plenty of people have good reason to want to be close to the supermarket when they park - but the point is how urgent the reason is.

No, young child spaces should be near the entrance - it's very difficult to safely take kids and a trolley to the car, especially when they want to run off.

Yes, it is sad that there is still ignorance towards hidden, and other disabilities. I have a relative with a neurological disability thay can affect balance, but because he looks okay he must be okay according to some.

Yes op, this is shocking. You need to appeal. He should have a blue badge no question.

I have a blue badge because I cannot walk very far and am in pain every step I take. I have renewed it twice, every time I end up having to appeal but I do get told what additional evidence I need. This time, last October, it was an updated medical report ( can’t recall exactly what it’s called) which is a print out I get from my GP of all my visits, referrals, medication etc. It is simply a printout from my records and I do not get charged for it.

I think the rejection letter has the phone number to use for an appeal so I suggest you do that and ask why the renewal was refused.

My teen has one and she could probably run, if she could be arsed. By your definition, she is visibly able-bodied. She is however blind.

I voted that you were unreasonable because I also read it as you were supporting him to drive. Apologies, I agree with you 100%.

They don’t need to drive themselves to need a blue badge. Anyone giving them a lift will probably need it.

My DM’s care home had one for relatives to borrow if necessary.
When taking DM (then over 90) to e.g. the optician it was impossible to park anywhere nearby, except with a blue badge, and she was no longer able to walk any distance. And I couldn’t drop her off to go and park - she had dementia, would very quickly forget that I was coming back and get into a panic.

Recommend re apply

https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge

Can't do that with a elderly person with dementia either.

OP YANBU. We were refused a blue badge for my dad - profoundly deaf, dementia, couldn't walk that far but enough to wander off. Used to take 2 of us to get him to the gp - one to stay with him and one to go find a parking space on an adjacent street as they only had blue badge parking. Utter nightmare.

You would think they would have a system to pre-book a P&C bay or something.

Or at least be able to go up to concierge services and ask for an exemption.

Often the only place to drop someone iff involves stopping in the road.
It then takes time to get them out and somewhere safe.

Then the same in reverse.

Why should she? That makes everything much tricker rather than parking in a safe and suitable parking space.

If that's the case then she would drop him off at the drop off/taxi space or by the entrance surely?!

You can't if they are anxious. And yes the car parks at out of town retail parks here are vast.

There seems to be very little understanding of what old age actually means to one’s mobility, resilience, and confidence.

This. A lot of people, currently dismissive of such problems, are going to get a shock as it happens to them.

I’m in my seventies and though I still work, exercise and have a busy social life the difference between how I was even ten years ago and how I am now is very noticeable.

it is reactive not pro-active modding so you have to report.

But ageism is generally ok here, and the reply will be something along the lines of "meh, we're leaving it up, plenty of people are challenging it in the comments"