My parents have had an apartment in a retirement community for ten years. They were aware of the possibility that they would have issues later in life. However, it’s “independent living” and now I understand that even the retirement community would have to call Adult Protective Services if my parents start getting into more and more trouble and aren’t making good choices.
Then again, even Adult Protective Services can’t make them accept help either. Is America’s system of freedom balanced to meet the needs of its aging citizens?
I hope that now that their behavior and confusion are beyond their ability to hide from the outside world, they will listen to the help that is available from the other options in their community.
While this is a great county, I wonder if we are handling this “freedom” thing right. I’m perplexed why there aren’t more measures put into place to make driving a privilege at all ages. A privilege you earn.
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that 1 in 8 adults over 65 years of age are moderately demented (at 85 it’s HALF). Given those statistics, shouldn’t the DMV consider requiring more stringent measures to renew a driver’s license?
Both my parents’ licenses were renewed within the past year. They were savvy enough to have them done before they turned 80. When you are 80 you simply have to pass a vision test. Appalled.