What alternatives have you found to driving that your parents accepted?

Sorry it didn't post the link to the article. The service is called GoGoGrandparent, it's a way to use Uber or Lyft without a smartphone.

Mom did not accept it at all. She sulked about the car and demanded it be returned. She refused to pay a chauffeur or use the senior van. She said she would rather die than give up driving. We held our ground.

Medicaid will provide transportation to medical appointments if they are eligible for Medicaid. Some senior citizens centers provide "field trips" using their van to stores, movies, pharmacies, etc on a regular basis for their member seniors. Uber, the city bus, a reliable neighbor who is a good driver? It is very difficult in some small towns and rural areas to find alternative transportation, and the situation of isolated seniors who have no such alternatives is getting more and more common. Entrepreneurs who might open such businesses, where are you?

We found a lady who would drive my mother places for $10 an hour plus gas. Some coordination was necessary but it was doable once we found a reliable person. She was really a companion as well as a driver --- actually, my mother's hairdresser of many years.

Ah-ha! Thinking about JessieBelle's comment about alternatives and careisgiving's comment about Uber, I google searched "service that helps seniors without smartphones use uber" and found this Union Tribune article: sandiegouniontribune

This solves my problem!

A chauffeur and a Rolls Royce ought to do it.

I didn't get plates thrown at me, but I did get a lot of guilt if I didn't drive my parents somewhere. I kept suggesting to my folks to try a taxi or the community bus that is geared for the aging, but they refused to ride with a stranger. I usually buckled under and drove them, even though driving was nerve wracking for me :(

Do you have access to Uber? If you don't take your parents out often, then this can be an affordable option.

I knew what you meant. Not much is worse than taking away the keys. It is a big step in the loss of independence and a hint that it is all downhill from then on out. It is very difficult psychologically to handle. You are not to blame. You knew it was time. There is nothing that can replace the loss of freedom the parent feels. The only thing to do is to arrange alternative transportation so the loss is not so great. A good thing about assisted/independent living is that transportation is available. Some of the residents may still be able to drive and provide rides to places like church or out to eat (if they are friends).

There is really no way to cushion the initial loss. Just duck when the plates fly your way.

Sorry, I meant what alternatives have you found that your parents liked?

(Versus getting so upset that they threw plates at you.)

Huh?