Yesterday I had a phone call from the police station. My mum was there having reported her car stolen at the shopping centre (several large car parks). I know she's been having difficulty remembering where she parked the car as she had told me on many occasions, and a few months ago we had another 'stolen car' incident. It was found a week later near to where she had been looking. (It's a long story and I won't bore you with the details but even though I had looked myself for ages the car was actually in a place that I didn't even know existed!)
When she saw the consultant a couple of weeks ago she (the consultant) asked her how her driving was and mum offered the information "Do you know, I've never forgotten where I've parked the car". Is this denial common?
Although her driving ability is still OK, if a little more cautious than she used to be, I am wondering now about whether she should be driving at all if this 'losing the car' is going to happen more often.
I rang her this morning to see how she was and she was fine because she'd got loads to do, sorting out the insurance details etc. and was keen to get on with it so they could give her a replacement car! I was horrified, not only because I don't want her doing that yet as I hope to find the car myself, (and in any case I would handle that for her) but also because I don't want her to have an unfamiliar car. At least she recognised her own car and knows the registration number. With another one she'd have no chance of finding it.
I have to go and look for the car this afternoon and will hopefully find it but I'm just so worried about how to tackle discussing all this with her. I want to ask her to stop driving but I know she'll hate it and will strongly oppose the idea. She lives in a small village with no shops and an erratic bus service so the car has always been her lifeline and independence. I live in the next village and could (and will) take her shopping, doctor's appointments etc. and I'm sure other people would pick her up if there's a gang of folk going out (coffee mornings, dinner etc.) but it's the little trips to fetch a pint of milk or just to look at the shops that I know she will miss.
Does anyone have experience of this bit and can you advise?
Amanda
P.S. At this stage I suppose I shouldn't rule out the fact that it might be stolen! But I think this is unlikely.
When she saw the consultant a couple of weeks ago she (the consultant) asked her how her driving was and mum offered the information "Do you know, I've never forgotten where I've parked the car". Is this denial common?
Although her driving ability is still OK, if a little more cautious than she used to be, I am wondering now about whether she should be driving at all if this 'losing the car' is going to happen more often.
I rang her this morning to see how she was and she was fine because she'd got loads to do, sorting out the insurance details etc. and was keen to get on with it so they could give her a replacement car! I was horrified, not only because I don't want her doing that yet as I hope to find the car myself, (and in any case I would handle that for her) but also because I don't want her to have an unfamiliar car. At least she recognised her own car and knows the registration number. With another one she'd have no chance of finding it.
I have to go and look for the car this afternoon and will hopefully find it but I'm just so worried about how to tackle discussing all this with her. I want to ask her to stop driving but I know she'll hate it and will strongly oppose the idea. She lives in a small village with no shops and an erratic bus service so the car has always been her lifeline and independence. I live in the next village and could (and will) take her shopping, doctor's appointments etc. and I'm sure other people would pick her up if there's a gang of folk going out (coffee mornings, dinner etc.) but it's the little trips to fetch a pint of milk or just to look at the shops that I know she will miss.
Does anyone have experience of this bit and can you advise?
Amanda
P.S. At this stage I suppose I shouldn't rule out the fact that it might be stolen! But I think this is unlikely.