Christmas shopping, parking and dementia
There are many aids for shopping with dementia - you just need to know where to look
Drawing from Experience is working to make life easier
It is important to be up-to-date with information about driving with dementia, especially in wintery weather
Done all the Christmas shopping yet? Are you even thinking of going shopping with someone affected by dementia at this time of year? It is bad enough to go round the shops when you are fit and well, but if crowds and noise are overwhelming it can be a nightmare. There are initiatives in shops, restaurants, and community places to make life easier for people affected by dementia, whether directly or as carers.
However, your first problem may be how to get there. Public transport might be easier in future if this organisation called Drawing from Experience has its way.
Blue badge scheme for hidden disabilities
If you have your own car you need to think about the blue badge scheme. This scheme has been extended to people with hidden disabilities including people with dementia since 2019.
Having a blue badge card is a tremendous benefit when you are going out and about with the person you are caring for. That’s the badge that gives you the right to park closer to your destination, often in a designated spot for blue badge users. Unfortunately, so many people have misused this service that it involves some bureaucracy and takes a while to get approval (up to twelve weeks) making it sometimes tedious trying to get a badge. If you want to apply for one the details are here on the government website at www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge . The pass usually lasts for three years, and you must apply for a new one before the current badge expires. It is linked to the person who is being cared for rather than a vehicle so it can be used in any car by anyone who is transporting the person you care for while they are travelling as a passenger.
Check rules for driving and dementia
If you are living with dementia, you can still use it while you continue to drive. It is important to check out the rules about driving and dementia. Remember that you can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell the DVLA about any medical condition that affects your driving, and dementia is one of those.
Anyone caring for an older person can order my new book about caring for older people which will be published in early 2022. It is a complete handbook for anyone in a caring role, guiding you through the practical, emotional and administrative challenges of supporting a loved one.
If you would like more information, you can buy my book Dementia, the One Stop Guide or Care Homes: When, Why and How to Choose a Care Home. I am available for consultancy for families or organisations. And if you have any further queries or questions, or suggestions for something you’d like to see me write on, please contact me via the Contact Page
See my new course on Dementia the One Stop Guide on Policy Hub here
