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Elderly parents

Non driving parent expectations

60 replies

Onlyadaughter · 30/07/2025 23:00

DF passed away 2 years ago almost and DM doesn't drive because she's too anxious. She has a licence but my dad drove her everywhere so she's not been behind the wheel for years. I take her to get with groceries etc every week and the occasional hospital appointment. Sibling helps with errands sometimes but flat out refused to do groceries so I'm doing that every week. For a while DM wanted lifts to her various medical appointments as she'd had a turn and didn't feel safe walking but thankfully she's been better recently (plus I told her she needs to walk, it's only 10 minutes away and took me longer to drive to her house 🙄 ).

A neighbour died recently and DM is hoping to go to the funeral next week but she's informed me she has a Dr appointment an hour before so "someone" would need to give her a lift. Sibling is away so can't do it. I'm working but she will be expecting me to ask for time off to drop her at the church. I'm not sure if she would be able to walk there in time but it would take me 15 minutes to drive to hers then I'd have to hang around at the medical centre waiting before taking her to the ceremony. Obvious answer would be taxi but she doesn't like trying to organise taxis when she's not sure what time she'll be available. Not sure what to do or say I'm sitting here silently seething and wishing she could fucking drive.

OP posts:
Enough4me · 30/07/2025 23:03

The answer is stop seething and politely decline, "can't this time Mum I'm working". Then talk about other things. You are not her servant and you are busy working.

PermanentTemporary · 30/07/2025 23:05

I’m sorry she doesn’t like waiting for taxis. The solution, however, is not for you to do the waiting instead.

She can either rearrange her medical appointment and get a cab to and from the funeral - possibly having to wait after calling them - or she could book a cab to wait for her and run her about. Or she could find out who else is going to the funeral and ask them for a lift. Or she could get buses (I know I’m lucky to be on a bus route).

Alternatively she could not go to the funeral. They’re not compulsory.

Tell her cheerfully that you can’t get any time off that day and ask what she’s going to do, in a spirit of polite interest.

Octavia64 · 30/07/2025 23:06

No, sorry mum I can’t get the time off.

Onlyadaughter · 30/07/2025 23:06

Yes that sounds good. Maybe she could rearrange her Dr appointment or something. I mean how many more Dr appointments and funerals will there be. I can't do everything.

OP posts:
eatreadsleeprepeat · 30/07/2025 23:11

For this time I would ask her to change the Gp appointment. Going forward could you arrange an account for her with a local taxi company, if she got to know the drivers she might be more comfortable. There may also be organisations which arrange volunteers to drive people to hospital appointments.
Maybe encourage her to do online grocery shopping?

Onlyadaughter · 30/07/2025 23:14

The asking another neighbour might work but again it's the timings. But yeah she expects me to wait around for her. And Mondays are usually busy as I'm on my own then. So yeah. Life's full of tough choices mum. She could watch the recording later if they have that. Or just go to the reception later.

OP posts:
Onlyadaughter · 30/07/2025 23:18

I think it's quite an urgent appointment but mind you they all seem to be these days so who knows 🙄 She was making a big fuss about some issue on the phone last week as if it was something serious but when I asked about it later it was no biggie really.

OP posts:
LameBorzoi · 30/07/2025 23:22

Who organises a doctor's appointment an hour before an event? Madness! Doctors have emergencies and run late.

Onlyadaughter · 30/07/2025 23:26

Appointment was booked before the old guy died.

OP posts:
Mumof1andacat · 30/07/2025 23:39

Is there a volunteer car service she could use to get to the doctors appointment?

CarpetKnees · 30/07/2025 23:54

Simple answer "Sorry Mum, I'm at work".

Longer answer - see @PermanentTemporary 's post.

But I'd be cautious about trying to solve all the issues she raises.
I know it is difficult when you lose your partner, but the more small steps you take , the easier it gets.

RantzNotBantz · 31/07/2025 00:01

Bus?

Could she have a few driving lessons to get her confidence up?

And online shopping?

You really cannot take time off work to run her to routine stuff.

Thoseshoeslookcomfy · 31/07/2025 07:50

My Mum is the same. Sending 💐. Don't be the one it all lands on. Say, "Mum, I'm sorry I can't, I'm working,".
Take care of yourself.

HopingForTheBest25 · 31/07/2025 07:59

Work time has to be definitely off limits - you can't be taking time off unless it's an emergency. Going to a neighbours funeral is not that!
Id drop her at the dr and then go back to work (using my lunch hour time) because that sounds important, but I'd not be waiting around or doing other errands afterwards.
Maybe teach her how to do internet shopping so she has some independence from you - there will be times when you are away or ill or just don't want to go shopping!

Onlyadaughter · 01/08/2025 06:24

Thanks all sorted now! Another neighbour is taking her, she got all snipey with me for assuming I thought she was wanting me to take her. Oh and she ended up rearranging the Dr appointment.

Re additional driving lessons she did that already years ago then just didn't drive again after. My dad had big cars she didn't feel confident driving them. She also refuses to use the Internet, can't use technology blah blah. I've tried showing her before it's frustrating.

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 01/08/2025 06:30

Google community transport in your area and then ring around. Community transport if around will also support with hospital and shopping and give her independence.

bluecurtains14 · 01/08/2025 06:32

Put a cap on your availability now. She either takes cabs or has some driving lessons to increase her confidence and you never take time off work to be her taxi.

ginislife · 01/08/2025 06:41

Get her the Uber app ? 😂

merrymelody · 01/08/2025 06:41

I feel your frustration, OP. My mum stopped driving recently because she’s 85 and doesn’t feel comfortable behind the wheel anymore. She regularly asks me to chauffeur her to and I get (secretly) so fed up with it! But then I feel guilty if I don’t…

taxidriver · 01/08/2025 06:42

i agree with make yourself less available although i am not sure i agree with her driving. what is her age.
she will find a way, as she did this time

merrymelody · 01/08/2025 06:46

ginislife · 01/08/2025 06:41

Get her the Uber app ? 😂

Yes, I was thinking the same but my mum is such a technophobe that she pretends she can’t figure it out.

menopausalmare · 01/08/2025 07:14

Moving forward, I would suggest weekly online shops if she is expecting more lifts from you.

LlynTegid · 01/08/2025 07:18

Glad to read it is all sorted out. Agree with the suggestion of online deliveries which were invaluable to my late mother in her last few years.

Regarding the non-driving as too anxious to do it, reminds of all the threads of people who essentially want to take all older drivers off the road.

Lafufufu · 01/08/2025 07:22

Its called a taxi.
She needs to start spending some £ on that and make friends with local taxi guys if she "scared" of uber.

Separately she needs to sort out Online shopping.

Be unavailable if she actually wants to go somewhere she'll work it out

Ducksurprise · 01/08/2025 07:29

She also refuses to use the Internet, can't use technology blah blah

It is a choice - I am much much further down the road, but this board helped me see things differently and put in boundaries - because of course it is easier to have a private chauffeur, personal shopper and full time PA- but that isn't a reality for most so it can't be for my parents either.

It is learned helplessness, if you were not around she would figure it out.

Someone told me on here to enable not do, and that makes so much sense.

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