Parking and the elderly

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.

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.

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.

They have leads for that now.

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.

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

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 mean reins? They've always had those.

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

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.

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

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.

Frail, elderly, issues with balance?

What planet are you on?

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

Its good yours has one.

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

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.

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]

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?