Preparing to Age in Place

The topic of clutter has filled our discussion space for several days!

I'd like to ask about a new topic: Transportation.

How do we deal with cars and travel as we age?
What do we do as our perception and reaction times diminish?
Do we reorganize our lives to travel less?
Do we find alternative transportation services?

Hi Ed - Great topic! May I suggest that you post this as a new discussion in the Aging Well group?
I would love to hear how others manage and I'm sure we'll have a lively discussion.
Sue

Sue-
My first intent was to start a rather broad discussion of the many adaptations people have made to facilitate aging in place. Starting more topics might result in more "list clutter!" Let's wait a little while to see if people have thoughts about "Transportation," or any other adaptations to aging in place.
Anybody want to share?

My husband and I went down to one car a couple of years before he passed away, getting rid of a camper trailer, the truck to pull it, and a second small car. We worked that out ok.
As long as I’m able to drive, I’ll keep that remaining car, and am glad that I’m able to give several friends rides who don’t see well anymore.
On a very happy note, my daughter and I just booked a bus tour with a local tour company, to see and enjoy mountain scenery again, took out travel insurance, just in case … Longer trips are out for me what driving is concerned. Probably couldn’t handle them mentally anymore either.

An elderly person I know is learning and getting quite good at taking Uber transportation when needed.
Of course money can be a problem. And figuring out our bus system would be not exactly easy, for me for sure.
So I’m doing ok for right now, but feel for other elderly who have real transportation problems.

My wife and I each have our own cars.

Since I retired 4 years ago we have rarely both been out driving at the same time. With recent illness and surgery, she has not driven since last summer, but we expect she will soon be able to drive.

Nevertheless, we realize that having two cars (15 year old Toyota Priuses) is a bit much and expect we'll change to one car soon. Nearby neighbors did this recently and have adapted easily.

With age I've reduced night and interstate driving. Covid changed our lifestyle and we don't really miss going out to crowded events or restaurants. Our favorite restaurant offers delivery. We like to do brunch where outdoor seating is available.

A nearby pharmacy and supermarket will deliver meds and food at a reasonable cost. I have been amazed at my ability to order tools and supplies via the Internet, often with very fast delivery.

Eventually, like our oldest neighbors, we may need to call Lift or Uber for special trips.

We live in a fairly rural area. We each have and maintain our own cars, and my husband currently has 2 additional vehicles plus 3 motorcycles. There is no public transportation around here; the closest town is 25 miles north. When possible, if anyone is headed out, neighbors and/or friends will call each other and query if anything is needed, or if anyone needs a ride, to minimize trips overall. We all work together.
Ginger

I live in the suburbs of a city of 100,000. The closest city bus is a long walk away from here. A young person could walk it easily, but there is no way I, at 83 and walking with a cane, could. So it is Uber or Lift, which I have used in other cities but not here. There is Dial-a-Ride, a city bus curb-to-curb service, at a few dollars per ride. They do mean curb-to-curb; there is no help going up stairs or even a curb. The driver stays in the bus. Dial-a-Ride is fine if a person doesn't have to be anywhere at a certain time because their pick-up is within a half hour time window and sometimes they don't make it in that window. I've waited after church for an hour for my Dial-a-Ride to show up. I do still drive, my Dial-a-Rides were after knee replacements. But there will come a day when I won't be able to drive. If looks now like I'll need more help here at home but still be able to drive so I may be a resident at some other locations, but still driving.

Time sometimes seems circular! It curves back to where we first began!! It’s a lovely and loving journey you have made! Thank you for sharing your adventure!!

I scanned my large collection of slides, and my father's even larger collection, and went through piles and albums of photos and they're all in my cloud. I still have the originals, but they won't be as hard to let go of when I need to. My father-in-law had many thousands of slides, and prints he developed in his darkroom, and my brother-in-law has them all saved digitally. I enjoy watching a slide show now with no screen and projector to set up.

I collect old tools, and I've been putting tags on them against the day when I have a huge tool sale. I've been gathering tools by manufacturer into toolboxes, to be organized and better prepared for paring down, trying to decide what to keep, and more importantly, what not to keep! And along the way I give my kids and grandkids tools for Christmas. I gave my toddler granddaughters toolboxes one year and I add things as they get older. They like getting tools.

Those are ways I'm working toward the day when we move from this house in the country, with a barn, garage, carports and my wife's big craft shed, to a much smaller place somewhere without those places to store things.

Not sure what to do with all of my books yet. Does anyone besides me collect old hymnals?

Jim

Jim wrote: "And along the way I give my kids and grandkids tools for Christmas. I gave my toddler granddaughters toolboxes one year and I add things as they get older. They like getting tools."

Jim, this is wonderful!

About half of my chisels, planes, marking gauges, burnishers and scribing points were given to me by my grandfather, great uncle and two wonderful old friends. I remember them when I pick up these tools and often feel their kindness, encouragement and love as I work.

This is what you are giving your grandkids, a love that will be with them for many decades!