Submitted by NoraP on Wed, 02/10/2010 - 09:33
Posted in
I know this isn't really a legal question, but it's beginning to be pretty clear that my mother should not be driving as much as she does, especially at night. I've read your other posts on this subject and I'm wondering about the best way to get her to give up driving. Neither one of us (my sister and I)really wants to have that talk with her, nor do we want to force her doctor to be the bad guy (even if he was willing to do it). Any thoughts? Thank you.
Geriatric care manager
Tricky one. Other than biting the bullet and having the talk, there really isn't an easy way to do it. If you are looking for a third party to help, one solution may be a geriatric care manager. A GCM is (according to the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers):
A health and human services specialist who helps families who are caring for older relatives. The GCM is trained and experienced in any of several fields related to care management, including, but not limited to nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.
I'm not saying you should hire a GCM just for this job, but if you were able to establish a relationship between your mother and a GCM, she may be willing to help you with the situation. Although I have never worked with one, a bit of research on the Internet will reveal a range of issues and areas where Geriatric Case Managers can be of assistance to families and elders. I hope that helps. For more information, please visit our Massachusetts Elder Law Discussion Forum.