Our good friends popped in yesterday, had I known they were coming I'd have done lunch. Still, it was nice to see them. I really need to go and have my hearing checked again, with several people talking I can barely hear any of them, makes it hard to follow (and join in) a conversation. I suppose I've been putting it off because the NHS hearing aids (which I have got but never wear anymore) are useless - well, the ones I got given a few years ago were.....they were clearly extremely basic, no way of adjusting them at all, and the only thing they seemed to do was to make background noise louder. This in turn made it more difficult, rather than easier, to hear what people were saying, as I was too distracted by all this background noise that previously I'd been unaware of. The batteries didn't seem to last 5 minutes, I was constantly having to change them, and they're so small and fiddly. I didn't find the aids comfortable to wear either, so just abandoned them after a few weeks, very unsatisfactory all round....well, that was my experience anyway. Whether they've improved at all since I had them (I guess about 5 or 6 years ago) I don't know.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the future and how we'll manage....there will come a time, and sooner rather than later, when husband has to give up driving - he's even mentioned that himself recently. Whilst we're much better off with regard to having services, health facilities and shops much more local here, none of them are within walking distance. Well, not for us, for a younger, fitter person they would be. The bus service here is pretty unreliable, we've discovered, especially during the winter months when there are less buses - people complain every day on FB about buses being very late or cut out altogether with no notice and having a wait of an hour or more for the next one, by which time you may have missed your connection or your appointment. The bus company admit they're short of drivers so if one goes off sick, they often don't have a replacement. I asked a question on the local FB page about buses to our GP surgery, which is a bit out of the way, although it's the nearest one to us. I was given links to a website I'd not heard of, which gives details of several local minibus services, they pick people up from their homes or a nearby easily accessible point and take them to supermarkets, health services etc, for a small charge. There's also a volunteer driver scheme whereby a volunteer uses their own car to transport people to where they need to go and will sit and wait if required. Again, there's a small charge - the charges for both the minibus services and the volunteer car driver are even smaller if you have a concessionary bus pass....I haven't got one (not old enough yet!) but husband has. So FB, which I'm not a great fan of for various reasons, has actually proved very useful for once.
Whilst we don't need transportation services right now, it's nice to know that they will be available when we do need them. So that's one worry off my mind. We've been so used to having a car for our entire lives together that I was panicking a bit about how we'd manage without one. Obviously we can get most things - shopping and other stuff - delivered, but getting to GP or hospital appointments, which both of us have fairly often, does present a bit of a problem. Visiting our friends and family, going to the library, browsing in the high street shops, going for walks along the seafront or up on the moors or out for a coffee and cake in one of the many cafes around, picking my sister up from her coach journey when she comes down to stay - all this we have so far taken for granted as it's easy to do with a car. When we have to get rid of the car, I really don't want to end up marooned indoors - I think even husband might get fed up with that eventually, I know I certainly would. Yes, with hindsight it's a pity I didn't learn to drive when I was a lot younger - I couldn't do it now, I'm far too lacking in confidence and full of anxiety in a car, there's just too much traffic about nowadays and it scares me to death. It's not something I'm willing to try.
Husband is going to drop me off at the supermarket tomorrow morning on his way to the gym, so I can get a top up shop and have a leisurely browse, which will be nice.
My hubby drove for a local minibus service, they are great, just pre-book and they turn up, they also take disable children to their schools, which hubby loved, he had two boys he saw twice every day.
ReplyDeleteAs a non-driver myself, I understand your fears. I sometimes think I should have another go at learning, but like you, I'm too anxious. I hated it when I had 3 lessons in my 30's, so now, at 70, I doubt things will have got easier! I remember when my husband's Nana gave up driving. She sold her car for about £10,000. She got a taxi to somewhere and was complaining that it cost her £5. Her son (husband's uncle) laughed and said, "Well that only leaves you £9,995 for the next one!" When you consider the money saved on maintenance, petrol, road tax, depreciation etc, the odd taxi isn't that bad. Mind you, the minibus and volunteer driver schemes sound good and shouldn't be expensive.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the time on your own tomorrow. A mooch round, even in a supermarket, is good, without someone hurrying you or asking why you want to look at something they're not interested in! xx
I have become a hermit since I gave up my car (deteriorating eyesight) , just over a year ago. After many years of getting out and about with my tent(s) or caravan, setting off whenever the mood took me, with my dog as companion, I now spend every day at home. I see a Sainsbury's delivery driver once a week and actually get out for a couple of hours on a Friday to meet a friend for a coffee & catchup. It's not good!!! You are so right to sort out a way forward and be prepared. I wish you both the health and strength to carry on being active and still able to enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteThose transport services sound really good - very sensible to scope out these sorts of things in advance. I am the only driver now, and find I enjoy it less and less. I've driven for almost 50 years, and have always been happy to cope with motorways and London traffic. But these days, I hate driving in London - there is a 20 mph limit just about everywhere and there are complicated systems with cycle lanes that cut across the traffic. The cyclists don't keep to the cycle lanes, and just use whichever lane they think will get them there quickest! It all adds up to a stressful driving experience... I also find my night vision is not what it was, which my optician says is age-related and can't be remedied. We're thinking of getting rid of the car at the end of this year, and you can certainly get a lot of taxis for the cost of London car insurance!
ReplyDeleteI am worried about the same thing. What do we do when either of us can no longer drive safely. One reason we are looking into moving to the city where our specialists live. At least one can take a cab or public transportation to the areas where we need to be.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I had a similar experience with hearing aids years ago and like you put it in a drawer but as my hearing was getting worse I went for another test. This time I was given a simple aid for my better ear and a Bluetooth one for my almost useless ear and what a difference it has made I can also answer my mobile on it and have a conversation something I have struggled with for quite some time. I took a bit of getting used to due to the moulding in my ear but worth the effort so it may be worth another try.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to think ahead. I've seen an aunt of DH struggle because she is so isolated and didn't think ahead.
ReplyDeleteI think NHS aids have improved considerably in recent years. If you don't want to go private, it is worth giving them another go, I think. xx
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