My mom confessed that she's having blackout spells. One was at a local grocery store.?

Janet - She needs to se a doctor right away. ASAP! She could have suffered a TIA/mini stroke. I have had two TIA's.

I'm sure you know what a TIA is - but just in case - look it up on the Internet.

I have been so light headed a few times - that I went to bed before passing out. After going to the doctor and having my blood tested - my electrolyte's were -'way out of whack' - also being dehydrated and low sodium. So for good measure - take her to see the doctor.

I'm now 75 and I feel empathy for your dear mom. The hardest thing I have ever had to do - was to give up my drivers license. I cried that day but I knew it was the thing to do. Oh my, how I loved to drive. I do have my car parked in the carport - it's a van - it's what my husband uses when he takes me to the doctor or hospital.

I turned in my drivers license about 5 years ago and quit driving 7 or more years ago. I knew I had to do it before I hurt someone - including myself.

You need to have a heart to heart talk with your mom. Take her keys - but leave her car - so she knows the car is just for her - when you take her on errands. I would be very upset if my kids took my car from me. They can take my keys - but not my car - it is still mine.

Bless you and your dear mother.

She must be a go getter. Wow! 96 years old. I should be so lucky to live as long.

DeeJay.

Yes, there are a few in my neighborhood and I try to drop in and buy when I can although their mark-ups are usually 2-3 times that of the local supermarket. The 5 & 10 is slowly depleting of stock because the owner seems to be preparing to quit the business so isn't replacing a lot of stuff (and I have always LOVE 5 & 10s). All the corner stores are "m&p" stores and I think they stay in business mainly because they are open real early in the morning and stay open late at night. We even have a small Japanese gift shop/food store which is great but I worry whether they will be able to meet the rent every month because store rents in my area are so bloody high and the landlords don't seem to care if they raise the rents as often as it is legal (and they don't seem to care if their store space stays vacant when one tenant has to give it up--we have a lot of vacant spaces available for years and years). We don't have any chain stores in the neighborhood--we once had a BurgerKing but the locals would'nt buy there so it went away.

Some states have programs where something like this can be reported to the authorities, in our state, it's the Secretary of State's office, might be the DMV in yours. They will take it from there, by ordering a special examination held to determine whether a person's privilege of driving should be withheld. I hope you can do something like this. The onus wouldn't be on you if it was the state that stepped in, after all and for all she knows it could have been the grocery store who complained. I suggest you call the appropriate authorities and see if something, anything, can be done. Your mom is not only a danger to herself, but to all on the road. Good luck, honey, and remember you're only being the good daughter she brought you up to be.

Talk with an attorney about this. He/she will tell you who to go to for taking her driving privilege away from her. This way you will not be blamed. You KNOW that you must do this, hon.

Remember the teenager who was killed by an 80 year old man who did not stop at a Stop sign? It was on TV news.

You could also hide her keys. Lock smiths are not allowed to make car keys. She would not be able to replace them.

My mother's car stalled on a highway going into town for groceries. A nice couple stopped and called my brother for help. He told her he was going to take her car to the shop. He never gave it back to her. When she asked about it, he would say it needed lots of fixing.

Your mom is very lucky to have a daughter like you! I don't know why people refuse to see what's best for them even when it becomes so obvious,like a black out behind the wheel.Hopefully, the Doctor will be able to convince her that it's time to re asses her priorities and accept the offer of a helping hand from someone that has her best interests in mind.

Janet, all you can do is to be there when she needs or desires to go out of the house. Perhaps, this will lessen her desire to drive on her own. Make it seem more like a thing you desire to do; rather than, taking away something which you both do not want done. I know you have too for your Mom's sake and the safety of others too; however, I know this hurts you too!

I sure wish you the best and your Mom too!

I had a similar occurrence with my mom.

When she had a stroke she lost 10 % of

her vision and 25 % of her hearing.She

thought she could still drive and didn't

want to lose her freedom of the road.

After much arguing I finally asked her if

she thought her freedom of the road was

worth the life of some hapless child chasing

after a ball into the street.

We went to the MVD and traded her license

for an ID card.

It hurts when you have to treat your parent

like your child.

Good luck my friend.

My mom had to give up driving when she got to be 90. She had some small accidents. I suggest having the doctor check your mom. She shouldn't be having black outs. It could be something simple as medication adjustment.

Hi Janet, you have some excellent replies here, I can only add my support and see how difficult this must be for you, but like the others suggest she must seek medical advice and go from there. My best wishes and good luck to you Janet and to your dear Mother.

Let her have the car but keep the keys until she's seen the doctor. If she can't be responsible for herself and the safety of others someone has to be.