I understand your predicament. Like many older gentlemen (and ladies), your father is not willing to stop doing what he has always done and believes himself able to do despite mounting evidence to the contrary. By giving up the freedom and independence of getting himself from A to B independently, your father would be giving up some of his pride, but that may be less costly than giving up his good health due to a nasty fall. I’ve ridden the LRT and know that it doesn’t always stop gradually when it rolls into a station!

There really isn’t a way to tackle this problem except head-on. Don’t be confrontational, because the hackles are already raised. Bring up the fall that your father had and make sure that he understands that as he continues to use public transit, he is more and more likely to have a serious fall. For seniors, this can mean a broken hip, which is a serious matter for the elderly.

Suggest that he plan his outings, and offer to accompany him or have a neighbour or relative tag along. If this smacks too much of babysitting, insist that he take a taxi or call for a drive. Explain that although it might put a cap on his independence, that is a small sacrifice to make for his own well-being and the peace of mind of all those who care about him.

You also might want to consider home care options. Try a search at thecareguide.com for Home Care Services or call 1-800-975-9736 for a copy of the printed guide, versions of which are available for GTA, Southern Ontario, Northern Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.