Driving Dilemmas Archives - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

Evidence-Based Inquiry Into Driving Skills

July 30, 2020

At some point, driving gets away from our aging parents. It’s an insidious process that lulls older adults into a false sense of security that their driving skills are still adequate. Adult children see a different picture of “unsafe driving”…

New Booklet: No Longer Safe To Drive

October 5, 2018

At some point it becomes painfully obvious. Maybe it’s the near misses, another fender bender, traffic tickets, getting lost on errands, poor night vision, or increasing confusion. Whatever the mix of warning signs, the message is clear and deeply concerning.…

Communicating Tough Choices. Booklet (pdf)

June 6, 2018

Introduction At some point in the lives of our aging parents things slip out of control. It may be a subtle change over time that finally becomes unmanageable or the sudden arrival of a medical setback. As much as we…

The Unavoidable Dilemmas of the Last Phase of Life

January 9, 2018

Dilemmas are messy, confusing, threatening, no-win situations where choices have to be made. Dilemmas dominate the last phase of life and extract a heavy toll on the entire family. The link below offers a short summary of the important differences…

How To Communicate Tough Choices To Aging Parents

June 19, 2017

At some point in the lives of our aging parents things slip out of control. It may be a subtle change over time that finally becomes unmanageable or the sudden arrival of a medical setback. As much as we want…

Aging Parents Dance Cards

December 2, 2016

Introducing “Aging Parents Dance Cards,” which were created for adult children of aging parents. The photos below are from the front and back side of one of the cards in the twenty-card set entitled “Reset Expectations.” Each card offers a…

The Rise Of Dilemmas

August 16, 2016

The landscape of old age is populated with dilemmas, which represent a new and confusing layer of complexity. Here’s why. We are all raised to be accomplished problem solvers. It is a skill set that focuses on the elimination of…

Problems Versus Dilemmas Of Aging Parents

June 29, 2016

Although demanding and stressful, the problems of aging can be contained or eliminated. Lost prescriptions can be refilled. Unsafe staircases can be modified. Transportation for an unscheduled medical testing can be arranged. Solving problems means eliminating uncertainty and most caregivers…

The Context of Caregivers of Aging Parents

June 27, 2016

I was asked to write an article about the context of caregivers of aging parents. What’s the scope and depth of their role? What are the issues they have to navigate every day? I found it was easier to create…

Before Something Happens

May 11, 2016

The car looms large in our aging parent’s lives but at some point it’s too much. The “No Longer Safe To Drive” mind map helps adult children figure out the tipping point of when to intervene as well as provides…