Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team When your parent stops driving, their world doesn't have to shrink to the size of their living room. Paratransit services, volunteer driver programs, ride-share options, and public transit can replace most of what the car provided. Building a transportation
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team Vehicle modifications like hand controls, steering aids, and transfer devices can extend safe driving independence for years when a parent's physical abilities have changed but their cognition, vision, and judgment remain intact. The process starts with a certified driving
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team Driving is independence, identity, and freedom all at once. Asking your parent to stop is asking them to surrender a piece of themselves. But declining abilities and road safety don't negotiate, and this conversation is one of the
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team When an older adult is no longer safe behind the wheel but refuses to stop driving, you have to act. This article walks through the practical steps, from involving the doctor and using DMV reporting to physically removing the keys, and
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team A wheelchair represents a shift in what independence looks like, not the end of it. Choosing the right type, getting proper measurements, and understanding insurance coverage determines whether your parent stays active in their community or becomes isolated. The selection
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team A mobility scooter can restore community access and independence for an older adult who can no longer walk long distances but still has the cognition, balance, and upper-body control to operate one safely. Getting the right type for the right person
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team The right walker gives your parent back independence they thought was already lost. Understanding the differences between standard walkers and rollators, choosing based on your parent's actual life rather than theory, and getting them to use it consistently
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team A properly fitted cane can reduce fall risk, relieve joint pain, and extend your parent's ability to walk independently for years. Choosing the right type, getting the height correct, and learning proper technique are straightforward steps that make a
Mobility and Independence
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team Mobility decline in older adults follows identifiable patterns with real, modifiable causes. Understanding why your parent's walking has changed, what to watch for, and when to act can mean the difference between a small decline that stabilizes and
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by a bioethics and geriatric care contributor A cognitively intact adult has the legal and ethical right to refuse any medical treatment, including treatment that could save their life. According to the AMA's Code of Medical Ethics, patient autonomy is a foundational principle of medicine, and a
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by a VA benefits specialist VA pharmacy benefits are earned benefits, not charity. The VA provides prescription medications to enrolled veterans at copays that max out at $11 per 30-day supply for non-service-connected conditions, and at zero cost for service-connected conditions and veterans below the VA income threshold. For
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by a licensed pharmacist contributor Most older adults on multiple prescriptions qualify for a free, hour-long pharmacist review that catches dangerous interactions, eliminates duplicate drugs, and simplifies the daily pill routine. Medicare Part D covers this service for eligible beneficiaries, yet according to CMS data only a fraction of