To make a long sotry short, mother/MIL was in an auto accident a few months back which was ruled not her fault as a car went thru a red light and hit into her totaling her car. She was bruised & banged up with a broken wrist but other than that ok. So fast forward to Friday she says to us that she wants us to take her looking for another car. We understand that the accident was not her fault but really at this age why would she want to continue driving. She sort of got mad/offended because we said oh well will talk about it later and she said no I want to go for another car and within the next few weeks. I am not even sure the her insurance company will insure her anymore because of her age and this accident even though it was not her fault but how do you tell someone who is so set in their ways and stubborn. Thanks for any input!!!
Angel #2
How I wish my parents could have kept on driving as I have been driving them for the past 5 years to doctor appointments, grocery stores, shopping, hair appointment, hardware stores, to the CPA, you name it, and I am so burnt out doing this, that I am at a point where I am really hating to drive. Don't get caught in this loop, it will drain you of all your free time.
So please allow your mother-in-law to keep being independent by letting her get a new car. Wish my parents would get something newer, the cruise ship they call a car is a nightmare to drive. I get seasick just backing the darn thing out of the garage.
So ... I suggest it put the decision in the hands of a testing facility. If there is a rehab organization in your area that does this (often to determine if modifications to the car are needed), use that. If not, maybe the DMV. But if she passes the test and the insurance will keep her, and she shows no cognitive problems, then let her drive. If she doesn't pass or her insurance won't continue, then it is out of your hands and you are not the one to blame.
My mother (before I moved to care for her) had been a dodgy driver for years, missing a line of parked cars by a hair's breadth and backing out over the lawn - all unbeknown to me 200 miles away. Once I lived with her she went everywhere with me in my van. One day she drove her car and I was a passenger. She blew through a red light and turned into our street on the wrong side of the road. I think it scared her as she gave up and the car was sold.
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