My friend has had ankylosing spondylitis for decades. He hasn’t been able to turn his head since I can’t remember when. He has special side view & rear view mirrors to compensate for his lack of movement.
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That looks like a really good publication. I’m going to go through that with her!
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IDK if they have good hearing as part of their testing, but MIL was getting very hard of hearing and did not want to use the hearing aids after the trial. When she was driving, I noticed that, and I felt it was a hazard. It turns out she started hitting the left side of the garage entrance, and that was enough for her to give up her keys with her sons’ persuasion.
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“Left hand turns make me nervous” - Well that one I’ve failed forever (probably didn’t help that the car my parents gave me started stalling on left turns while I was at college). When my teens drove together they used to plot out their route together - “Should we go the Mommy Way? Nah.” (plotted for minimal left turns).
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I posted this comment a while ago, but an older woman (mid-80’s) could not feel the bottom of her right foot due to neuropathy. So she couldn’t tell how hard she was pressing on the gas or the brake. Obviously that didn’t stop her, and she had been in several fender benders. Finally with the accident that put her into rehab (where I worked and did her admission assessment) the state of AL was requiring her to pass a driving test for her to retain driving privileges. I suspect her vision was also not up to par either, and she knew this was the end of her driving. I was glad she was being taken off the road as she was dangerous with driving.
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Hey, maybe you are the smart one:
“An estimated 90% of the turns made by UPS delivery trucks are right turns, and that’s intentional, according to the Washington Post. Left turns are seen as inefficient, because they leave trucks sitting in traffic longer. The logistics company says a policy of minimizing left turns has helped it save more than 10 million gallons of fuel over the past decade. Left turns (in countries where people drive on the right) are dangerous, too: New York City officials say left turns are 3 times more likely than right turns to cause a deadly crash involving a pedestrian.”
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I think you’re right. Many of you have already seen the progression. It was obvious to me when my dad stopped driving that he shouldn’t be doing that anymore. When it comes at you slowly, it can be hard to tell. I’m going to start paying more attention. And also start getting her ready for the thought that at some point she’s going to need to stop driving.
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Oh, 100%! People make all kinds of adjustments on every front for what they can and can’t do, and it can be hard to notice them or know why. Not a driving one, but my mom started emptying the trash daily – because that was the only way she’d be sure the bag wouldn’t be too heavy. I had no idea her strength had diminished so much! (She’d always been a pretty obsessive house-keeper, so this flew under the radar.)
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My mom does laundry every other day – it’s her solution to the basket is too hard to carry, but of course it is that many more trips up and down the cellar stairs… (Local sibling : “I know this is your big worry, but she’s gonna die of something and if she wants to die falling on the stairs to do laundry, then we really can’t prevent it”)
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Since I’ve mentioned her here before, my MIL passed away today. It was long overdue, but there’s never a good time. Hospice didn’t make it in time. H was at work. I was at a doctor’s consult for a female related surgical procedure. So many emotions. I feel terribly for FIL. Last month, he lost rather unexpectedly his best friend in the world for 85 years. They were more like brothers than any family he had. And now his wife of 61 years. I’m sure he feels very alone.
I know MIL met the kids’ GFs several times over the years, but by then I know she didn’t remember. I wish she had, and had gotten to see them engaged/married. She loved them so much. She helped raise them.
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Yes, I remember you talking about her/them often. And that she wasn’t well.
Hugs to your family and especially to your FIL, such a hard, hard time in life. <3
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Prayers for you and your family! I’m very sorry, especially for your FIL.
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I am very sorry. It’s never easy even if MIL was unwell for a long time. Deepest condolences to you and your family.
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I’m so sorry for your loss.
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I’m very sorry for that. I am sure that you and your H are a comfort to your FIL, as you really understand all the grief he must be enduring.
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I’m so sorry. May her memory be a blessing. 
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@ClassicMom98 so sorry about your mil
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Sorry for your family’s loss. May her memory be a comfort.
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Ohno! That’s so much too much. I am so sorry for your loss.
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What a tough pair of losses for your FIL (and the whole family). Sending hopes for peace in your hearts… and stamina in the coming weeks.
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