Parking and the elderly

[Ireallycantthinkofagoodone]

I recently attempted to renew a blue badge for an elderly (93 year old) relative. Despite him needing to use a walking frame or sticks, having had several falls, having stiff and painful joints, and a bit of confusion, he has been refused a blue badge.

I have lived in an area that had a ‘brown badge’ scheme, which were given to anyone over a certain age - I think it was 70 or 75. Now, not everyone needs to secure a space near to store entrances - I’m late 70’s myself and regularly walk 8-10k a day, but many people do need this, as they can’t confidently walk too far.

But aside from blue badge spaces, the only other close ones are parent and baby spaces. Why? I don’t understand why the latter can’t be further away, and wide enough to access car seats.

If my 93 year old relative is no longer entitled to a blue badge, I feel the only option is to park in a so called baby space, so that I can encourage his ongoing independence in choosing his food shopping. He just wouldn’t go if I couldn’t assist.

AIBU - Elderly people don’t need consideration in supermarket car parks

AINBU - If blue badges are being heavily restricted now, spaces in car parks should be set aside for the elderly, and parent/baby spaces moved further away.

DH applied for his blue badge to be renewed and was told he had to go to an assessment in another town. He couldnt travel that far and the council told him there was no alternative so tough shit basically. So he just went without i This was about 13/14 years ago. He gave up driving at the beginning of 2020 He has COPD and ischemic heart disease as well as arthritis.

Blue badges have to be renewed every 3/4 years and it’s a whole new application

I never had to go for any assessment, I just had to provide proof of my PIP

Our supermarket has parent spaces and separate senior spaces. It gets a bit silly. All are courtesy spaces that are not enforceable. People seem to forget that the space creation is a marketing strategy.

I don’t use the spaces. I prefer to park at the back and walk in unless the weather is truly awful.

forgot my point, to ahead and park there. He needs a close spot and the store wants his business.

This is not the case in every area, some areas they don’t take PIP into account at all. It varies quite a lot

I thought legally things like planning a journey 10 points led to a badge? Ds gets 12 so is somehow too disabled?

But actually the store doesn’t want most old people’s business. Especially if they spend a long time in the store and don’t spend very much. Really, I used to know a manger of a large supermarket. Families are their best and most favoured customers. Customers with young children will be good customers for a long time.

The blue badge is not connected to the disabled person driving! Its for use in any car giving them a lift too. Does a wheelchair bound six year old with a blue badge drive??! OP mentions taking him shopping.

As a parent with two children under 1 1/2 the parent and child spaces are full of blue badge holder anyhow!
I wish the parent and child spaces were at the furthest end of the car park with a nice path. People wouldn’t probably abuse them then and I wouldn’t have to squeeze to get car seats in and out.

You can let him out at the entrance, park anywhere and pick him up again at the entrance or collection point if he's not driving.

That wouldn't have worked for my MIL at all. Her Alzheimer's would have meant that she couldn't have been left alone, and she needed significant help to get it of the car, as her brain was not capable of telling her what to do with her legs in order to get in and out. We couldn't 'drop her' anywhere.

🙄

That's a nasty comment - you know nothing about the OP.

My 60 year old sister has a learning disability and reduced mobility. Her blue badge wasn't renewed. Numerous appeals but due to a change in the system her individual case doesn't tick enough "boxes" so it gets rejected every time. With her lifelong disability, she's obviously not disabled enough!
I have to park far away so we can open the door wide enough for her to get in and out. We then hobble along slowly to get to our destination.

Oh don’t be so ridiculous - clearly he is the passenger.

Agreed - spiteful. But then grey prejudice is on the rise.

Spiteful comment - clearly you don’t have to look after an elderly relative 🙄

They have really clamped down on blue badges this year because they have given out so many in my city.

If he is just a passenger can he not be dropped off by the store doors and then you park up? Leave him at and Collect him at the pick up bay once done.

Just go in sometime to the supermarket if it’s a supermarket and ask them what you should do. Without him if you can. I was able to give them my reg and they added me to a list that meant I could use the P&C spaces when I didn’t have a BB yet.

@PetuniaT I have a BB and a Motability car. I abuse neither. How dare you.

I would be asking the advice of your local MP. Your sister has a lifelong disability, and sounds like she struggles to walk any distance.

I happened to notice a woman, clearly around 80 years of age, park in the P&C space at the supermarket the other day. I hadn’t noticed this before but I did think to myself that she deserved the space as much as a child might due to her age.

As an aside, I cannot drop my elderly mother off at the door and then go and park unless there is a seat right by the shop door, as she has become very unsteady on her feet and leans on me when she walks.

Exactly this! How many people are driving around nowadays in silly oversized SUVs that stick out halfway into car park driving routes! How many more people are demanding the use of P&C spaces because of their poor choice of car!

It needs to be signed as designated for blue badge holders only. If it isn't, then it's not.

Appeal the blue badge decision. Someone suggested letting him out at the entrance then parking. This is a bad decision if he’s had falls and is unstable on his feet. He probably shouldn’t be standing around waiting for you to park.

I have a BB also and by spooky coincidence my 1 year old Citroen turned out to be a notability car which was taken back because it was being used exclusively by the previous owners family member - common fraud apparently.