My mom, who had a stroke in Jan, is now living in an assisted living facility and my dad has joined her there. Moms driver’s license expired last week. She will no longer be driving, it is not physically possible, but should I renew it just to have as a form of ID? Tried getting her just an ID card through the DMV but that requires her to appear in person, which she can’t do. Is it necessary to continue a form of ID like this? It looks like we could renew the drivers license online, but would require a fib about her health.
issue renewing online instead of in person, just renew.
many places will require a photo id like going to a new
doctor's office, an ER, lab or imaging facility
Trust me save yourself the problems if you can renew online
just do it and have their id photo id for the situations mentioned above
I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment before in my life.
For you, does your mother perchance have an opthamologist? If so, they can send in the application for the ID DMV card.
I don't advocate that you lie about her health when obtaining the ID card. Lying about one's health is unlawful, of course, when applying to the DMV.
It's an unfortunate place to be. BUT, she will run into issues, if she fails to have it renewed. (Banking, etc.)
In California, if a person needing to renew their driver's license by making an appearance is 70 y. o. or older, the DMV has given an automatic extension for one year from the date of expiration. This is due to many DMV office closures and limited appointments, and overload from the pandemic.
This was just announced late in July. It was said that one will not need to document the extension. It is automatic.
However, if you sign up for a DMV account online, one can print out the letter of extension to carry it with you.
Anyway, after trying to bring aides in, just 1hr/day check to be increased as needed so she could remain in her condo as long as possible, she refused to let them in (lasted about 2 months.) So, about 4.5 years ago we moved her to MC.
Her license was still "current" for about 8 more months. One time during a trip to get mac deg treatments, she was rifling through her wallet and purse (usual during any doc or dental visit, during the drive or wait) and came on the license. In talking about it, I pointed out that it was expired. She didn't ask about getting another.
I considered looking into an ID, esp since she was moved over the state border to be closer to us, but never did it. Since it was a different state, no question that she would have to go to get the photo done and that wasn't happening!
No one has ever asked for an ID, not even at a new dermatologist I took her to. Medicare card, yes. I provide them with a copy of the POA and have had NO issues. What's funny about that is for years she said she had lost the Medicare card. While waiting for this appt, she was going through everything as usual and lo, there it was! I snagged it, saying they needed it and didn't give it back. This was before the ID change. By the time new IDs were issued, I had become rep payee for SS, so it was sent to me. The facility has copies of SS and Medicare cards, and no one has ever asked for an ID.
I wouldn't bother renewing it. IF someplace asks for photo ID and won't accept the expired one, explain the situation. At a reg doctor or dentist office or even a hospital, they should understand and accept it. The Medicare card information should match the name, etc, and should be sufficient. If she needs to see a new doc or go to hospital, most likely her reg doc should be referring. Why they would need a "current" or non-expired picture ID is beyond me!
My mother had a driver’s license at one time, which was later changed to a State ID. She then went into an assisted living and during that time her ID expired. The Registry said she had to come down to renew, which was not going to work for us. I let it expire and there has been no problem needing an ID for anything. I was also very nervous thinking she is going to need an ID for something.
When my mother first went into the assisted living, they took a picture of her with her name, which the facility used for identification purposes. Her address became the facility’s since it was her new home.
For five years from the time my mother was at the assisted living facility to the time she moved to the nursing home facility, there has been no need for a State ID for ID purposes.
Also, the real id will be needed for*any* flight after 10/21... not likely but a consideration.
Check with your State DMV and see if they have anything scheduled.
If it is not possible then I would renew the Drivers License if there is no possibility that she would drive. (If she did happen to drive then the "fib" about her health would come back to bite you (her).
The only "problem" that might arise is when she goes to a doctors office, particularly a new one they always ask for your Insurance card(s) and a photo ID. Some offices might have a problem if the ID or Drivers License is expired.
Seems really idiotic that one can renew a DL and not have to appear but to get an ID you do. I suppose this is due to the fact that often the background is different on an ID than it is on a DL.