Taking away the car keys...

[Zzzptm]

We had to do this with my mom recently. My dad just the other day almost got scammed by one of those "Hello this is Windows tech support" callers. I hope they can stay well, but I'm worried that in a few years my dad and mom will need some more help to keep up around the house. The hardest thing is when a parent gets foggy about things, you fear that there may come a day when they're not who they are anymore. That happened with my paternal grandparents, and it was heartbreaking. My grandfather couldn't recognize my grandmother and started to attack her like she was an intruder. Grandma's was milder, she just stopped recognizing people but was always friendly.

We were talking about this with our kids today, about how they need to watch out for us as we get older.

[Vyn]

That's a tough part of life to have to deal with, for sure. 

[Typhon]

That's a tough part of life to have to deal with, for sure. 

You got that right.  Living alone can be especially trying.  For that reason, I try to stay healthy and in good shape.  My main weakness is a mild case of scoliosis (slightly curved spine), which has given me back trouble once or twice a year for most of my life.

In fact, just this past weekend, I was attempting to set up some scaffolding I own, in order to paint a sun worn area of trim on the house.  Part way into it I strained my back and have been moving around the house like a 90 year old for a couple of days, because of the pain.    Luckily I have enough food hear to last a few more days, as it would have been a chore just to get in and out of my vehicle.

Sometimes being on your own can be tough.

[Zzzptm]

Back strain... I really do feel for you, Typhon. I know suffering like that, I hope you can do ice and heat on it to get back to where you want to be.

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
I have tried ice and heat a little bit in the past, but it doesn't seem to speed things along much.  Usually, taking things slow for several days is what I am forced to do.  I would say today I'm about at 60% mobility.

[Zzzptm]

A shame that treatment doesn't help. But, yes, taking it slow is top for getting the back where it needs to be.

I try to think every time before I bend - don't go to fast, don't stay too long, don't push too hard.

[Charger]

Oh damn...sorry to hear that Typhon buddy. Back problems are a bitch.

I suffer a bit of them myself...thankfully it's usually just a few days and then it gets back to "normal"...But I've had days when getting out of bed is a mission.



As far as the topic itself...I feel for you too ZZz...When my grandpa started having some memory issues and other mobility issues he still had enough faculties left to decide himself that he stopped driving. And gave us the car keys. That was super easy thing...but I know it ain't that easy for everyone...

One of the elderly fellows in my neigbourhood just had to have his licence taken away by cops because of severe dementia...the geezer was driving all over the place too...very dangerous. Cops came to his house and took away his licence. By the request of his wife I gathered...but I doubt he'll remember that so who knows he might just get up and drive around anyways...unless the wife can hide or lock away the car keys...
Memory problems are the worst...and for someone who's both grand parents suffered from either dementia or Altzheimer's all I can do is hope I'll die waaaaaay before I get that old...

[Zzzptm]

^ My paternal grandparents both had Alzheimer's, so I do all I can to prep my brain to stave it off. Constantly learning new things is supposed to help - so I don't plan on retiring. I remember how my grandfather was fine until he retired, then he went pretty fast after that, just a few years.