Living in the country

Moved recently, in our late sixties needed a downstairs toilet, smaller garden and better parking.
Hubby kept looking at houses in the countryside with fields at the back that were lovely but away from family, bus routes, doctors, dentist, shops. I had to persuade him that we were getting older and may not be able to drive in the future, and needed to be nearer all of the above not further away. After 2 years here, hes accepted that this house works much better for us, but he took some convincing.

We don’t live in the country but my accountant husband reckons driving a mile near London costs him £2 a mile now we have ULEZ fees as well .

We lived in the country for a number of years, but made the decision to return to a more urban setting because we missed things like the theatre/ galleries etc. The theatre has always been a great love, and I missed it terribly.

Since getting older we now appreciate access to medical services etc. heart attacks and other emergency can get us to hospital within 30 minutes, whereas when we were in Cornwall this year, an emergency took us 2 hours to get to Truro hospital from the north Cornish coast!

I feel your pain! I was in the same position a few year ago after my car died beyond repair! I live in a little village with terrible public transport. We have an active, fairly busy, train line with TWO stations in the village, one of which is just down the road from where I live. Both are closed and have been for about 8 years! The bus that used to stop at the bottom of my lane was discontinued in 2017 and the next nearest one is in the centre of the village, which is a 25 minute walk. So I was rather stuck. I have a chronic illness and can't walk far most of the time and my family live too far away to help. I was without a car for 6 months and during that time I discovered my village operates a car ride scheme. Volunteers (all checked and verified) will drive a local resident wherever they need to go within a 20 mile radius for the cost of the fuel. That came in very handy when taking my pooch to his regular vets appointments! I also used Ubers when needed, which are cheaper than taxis. A taxi from my home to the nearest hospital was £21 at the time, whereas an Uber charged just £8. It might be worth checking to see if there's a local car ride scheme near you? Some branches of Age UK offer a similar service but you'd need to check with your local branch. If you have access to "In My Area", or Facebook, you could register with your local group/page and there may be someone on there who offers lifts to locals, too. I have found that most country folk are very helpful.

My advice would be to shop around.

I have never driven. My, husband had a company car and wives were not allowed to drive it. When I was young I cycled anywhere up to ten miles away.
I did have lessons but never took the test.
When my husband died thirty five years ago and I came back to live in our bungalow in a village there were buses everyday to many surrounding towns. Now there is one. Until I was 94 I went to town on a Dial a Ride hired a scooter once a week.. I have been housebound for the past five years but manage with my iPad and my help takes my to hospital etc.

Well, I am over 80 and my insurance this year was £560.

I live just south of Oxford, so a highly populated area with lots of traffic, motorways and dual carriageways, so no deductions for living in a backwater.

Our insurance hasn't gone up that much!

rowyn

I don't think anyone has mentioned this - but I may be wrong.
I've read in various places recently that car insurance costs have rocketed, especially if you are in the age group of 80 + There has been mention of 80 year olds with small old cars being charged £1000.

My mother is 88 and gave up driving a year ago . I’m a named driver on her car and the renewal last year was over £1k . With me as the main driver it went down to £250. That wasn’t the reason for her giving up driving . Her reactions were so slow , she was dangerous.

My husband who's supposed to be retired goes out every day 7am - 6pm (later in summer) and 'helps'. Thats every day of the week, although they usually finish at midday at Christmas and go out again about 5pm and do the evening feeding.

Callistemon21 It sounds as if he is still working long hours on the farm.

Depends on one's definition of 'helps' -- my husband 'helps' quite long hours also, but in actuality he over manages our children.

Perhaps ExDancer will clarify her husband's availability.

Driving an electric buggy on country roads would be suicidal, it would not be able to cope with any inclines, or rutted and potholed roads - and most rural roads are rutted and potholed these days

It would have to obey the rules of the road as to which side of the road it was. It would be travelling at slightly over walking speed with its back to traffic coming up much faster behind. Pedestrians walking on county roads are always advised to walk facing the traffic.

A few years ago we did come upon an electric buggy on a country road, about a mile from a village. It was going up a steep hill, at less than walking speed. DH is a member of Advanced Motorists and kept his sense of humour and patience. As we followed this buggy a queue of traffic built up behind us , overtaking was too risky with a hill crest ahead. It was a good thing that DH was not tempted to overtake because as we reached the top off the hill, the buggy suddenly veered across the road to disappear down a farm track on the other side of the road.

Are you in the UK?
Lots of areas have mini buses and buses that you can order to your door.
Think it’s for areas with poor or no bus services.

Depending upon the milage from home to where you need to be, would a mobility scooter be a possibility?
These days, they can cover up to 30 miles (remember to calculate the round trip). It's even possible to get one with a car type hard cover for winter. The cost is less than most cars.

Norah

Callistemon21

Norah

We both still drive and both have cars. Our children do seem to be subtly pushing us towards one car. It's quite logical as neither of us go anywhere the other couldn't or wouldn't,

But, in this instance, the husband's car is working well, it should be kept - with consideration given towards him driving the few times ExDancer needs or purchasing another.

Ex-Dancer's DH can't have much time to go anywhere or take her anywhere if he still works such long hours so it might be a good idea to trade in his large 4x4 and buy something suitable which they can both drive, a medium sized comfortable and economical car.

We have our own separate hobbies and groups and I'm hanging on to my car, despite people saying "You'll only need one car now!" 🙂

ExDancer said he 'helps' .. my husband 'helps' everyday and long hours as well .. but the rest do quite well without his semi-retired-self 'helping' when we go to town, or away on holiday.

I could be wrong - I believe 'helps' actually means 'goes outside and surveys his grounds, looks at what he has built, and potters around'.

My husband who's supposed to be retired goes out every day 7am - 6pm (later in summer) and 'helps'. Thats every day of the week, although they usually finish at midday at Christmas and go out again about 5pm and do the evening feeding.

It sounds as if he is still working long hours on the farm.

Are there no mobile hairdressers in your area? This may seem as stupid question, but I don't live in the UK and here we do have hairdressers. chiropodists, opticians and hearing-aid experts who come to their clients' homes, instead of the other way around.

Unless you are undergoing a prolonged course of treatment from the dentist, can you not find a friend or relative who can take you there when you have an appointment? Offer to pay the petrol used, of course, and fix appointments at times that suits the driver.

Instead of buying a new car, I would be thinking about an electric buggy specially designed for those who have mobility issues and which can be taken into supermarkets and other big stores and on trains.

Surely the UK has organisations for senior citizens who if nothing else can tell you what your options, other than moving are, the cost of electric three-wheeled bikes and buggies, and whether there are any flex-traffic networks in your area.

Callistemon21

Norah

We both still drive and both have cars. Our children do seem to be subtly pushing us towards one car. It's quite logical as neither of us go anywhere the other couldn't or wouldn't,

But, in this instance, the husband's car is working well, it should be kept - with consideration given towards him driving the few times ExDancer needs or purchasing another.

Ex-Dancer's DH can't have much time to go anywhere or take her anywhere if he still works such long hours so it might be a good idea to trade in his large 4x4 and buy something suitable which they can both drive, a medium sized comfortable and economical car.

We have our own separate hobbies and groups and I'm hanging on to my car, despite people saying "You'll only need one car now!" 🙂

ExDancer said he 'helps' .. my husband 'helps' everyday and long hours as well .. but the rest do quite well without his semi-retired-self 'helping' when we go to town, or away on holiday.

I could be wrong - I believe 'helps' actually means 'goes outside and surveys his grounds, looks at what he has built, and potters around'.

I live a few miles out from a small village so would be lost without a car too. No transport to even get me into village in bad weather or car problems. The last time I had to get a taxi into local small town it cost me £30 ish and that was a few years ago. When I have to stop driving I will just have to move but it will be hard as this was mine and my late DH's dream home, so many memories. A difficult time for many of us in similar situations.

Norah

We both still drive and both have cars. Our children do seem to be subtly pushing us towards one car. It's quite logical as neither of us go anywhere the other couldn't or wouldn't,

But, in this instance, the husband's car is working well, it should be kept - with consideration given towards him driving the few times ExDancer needs or purchasing another.

Ex-Dancer's DH can't have much time to go anywhere or take her anywhere if he still works such long hours so it might be a good idea to trade in his large 4x4 and buy something suitable which they can both drive, a medium sized comfortable and economical car.

We have our own separate hobbies and groups and I'm hanging on to my car, despite people saying "You'll only need one car now!" 🙂

Eloethan

That's why I like an urban environment - buses, trains and tube to anywhere and everywhere only a few minutes apart.

My parents moved to the country in my teenage years and I absolutely hated it. Buses very infrequent and stopping at 6 pm., none on Sundays.

I have never learned to drive and don't mind using public transport (especially as buses are free for senior citizens) - though I can see that car travel can be much more convenient at times. I would not feel comfortable depending on other people for lifts on a regular basis.

So far as the OP is concerned, if possible I would move to maybe a small market town where transport and shops are more accessible.

So far as the OP is concerned, if possible I would move to maybe a small market town where transport and shops are more accessible

But she lives on a farm and her DH, although supposedly retired, still works long hours on the farm.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this - but I may be wrong.
I've read in various places recently that car insurance costs have rocketed, especially if you are in the age group of 80 + There has been mention of 80 year olds with small old cars being charged £1000.

No advice for the OP I'm afraid, but this is exactly why I live in an inner suburb of a small city. In many ways I'd love to be in the country but I don't want to be dependent on a car. My father went on driving long past the point where he became a potential danger to other road users, and I'm not going to repeat that mistake. I like driving, I'm grateful for my car, but I could live my life with relatively little extra inconvenience without it.

Ooops, I thought my reply was lost, both posted, Sorry.

We both still drive and both have cars. Our children do seem to be subtly pushing us towards one car. It's quite logical as neither of us go anywhere the other couldn't or wouldn't,

But, in this instance, the husband's car is working well, it should be kept - with consideration given towards him driving the few times ExDancer needs or purchasing another.

It wasn't clear, in OP, but you have a husband with a capable car. Perhaps he could take you for groceries, the dentist, haircut, and weekly hydro-pool? Other option, buy an inexpensive car?

I suspect Ex-Dancer qualifies for Attendance Allowance(AA) not PIP - I have a feeling she gets it as well.