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October 10, 2024 • 16 mins

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In this gripping episode of "The Keys," Clarence Clemons's routine drive spirals into an unforeseen police chase as he inadvertently heads toward Tennessee. Confused and disoriented, Clarence bypasses his intended grocery store destination, running red lights and merging onto the highway. Concerned citizens and alarmed family members swiftly react, leading to police intervention. As the chase concludes safely, the incident sparks a crucial dialogue among Clarence's family about his future and independence, highlighting the challenges of aging and the delicate balance between safety and autonomy. Join us as we explore the implications of this pivotal moment and its profound impact on Clarence and his loved ones.












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(00:00):
Welcome back to take care oftime, the tales and exhales of

(00:03):
caregivers.
I'm your host, Beverly Nance.
And today we embark on a newstory.
A tale of independence.
Aging.
And the difficult decisions thatfamilies face as their loved
ones grow older.
This is the keys.
And episode one begins with aheart pounding moment.

(00:23):
That brings a family's unspokenfears into the glaring light.
So You It's a sunny spring day.

(00:59):
In Huntsville, Alabama.
The day begins with a soft.
Golden glow as a sun peaks overthe rolling Hills.
Casting long shadows and bathingthe city in warm light.
The air is fresh and slightlycrisp, carrying the sweet scent
of blooming azaleas anddogwoods, which are in full
splendor.

(01:20):
Dotting the landscape withvibrant pinks, whites, and
purples.
The streets and the back roadsof Huntsville.
Come alive, slowly, birdschirping.
In newly leaf trees.
And there's a gentle rustle as amild breeze stirs, the first
leaves and the last of thecherry blossoms.

(01:40):
Residents start their day with aleisurely pace.
Some jogging or walking theirdogs along the scenic pathways
of big spring park.
Where the pond mirrors, theclear blue sky and the lush
greenery surrounding it.
As the city awakens, thedowntown area begins to buzz
with activity.
Cafes set out tables, offering.

(02:02):
A perfect spot for enjoying amorning coffee.
Under the shade of umbrellas asthe day warms up.
The atmosphere is relaxed yetvibrant.
Reflecting Huntsville's blend ofSouthern charm.
And the dynamic spirit of thecities.
Proud of its rich history andits role in aerospace

(02:22):
exploration.
Just 20 minutes from the sleepyheart of downtown Huntsville.
Locally known as the country forhis serene and expansive
landscapes.
Clarence Clemons.
Sets out for a routine task thatno one thinks twice about.
It's a simple trip to thegrocery store.
A mundane, errand that countlessothers in the city are also

(02:46):
undertaking on this brightspring morning.
The old truck rolled slowly outof the gravel driveway.
The tires crunching beneath himas he steers onto the open road.
The cab smells faintly ofleather and a mixture of
gasoline and age.
A comforting aroma for Clarence,a man whose truck has been as

(03:07):
companion for years.
A symbol of his independence andself-reliance.
The road from his home winesthrough stretches of lush
greenery.
where wild flowers are beginningto bloom.
Painting the roadside in strokesof yellow, blue, and red.
The beauty of the landscape islost on Clarence whose focus is

(03:28):
consumed by the task ofnavigating the road, a task that
has become increasinglychallenging.
As he drives the dashboard'sdials and gauges catch the
sunlight.
Flickery momentarily.
As they monitor the trucks,vital signs.
But there's another monitor, notso visibly measured the gradual

(03:48):
yet undeniable, but decline ofClarence's ability to drive
safely.
Each turn of the wheel, eachpress or the pedal becomes a
Testament to his.diminishingfaculties, a harsh.
reminder of the aging processthat respects no one's pride or
past capabilities.
The journey to the grocerystore, seemingly

(04:09):
inconsequential.
To the casual observer is Ladenwith implications for Clarence.
It underscores a crucialintersection in his life.
And in the lives his familymembers.
Who watch with mixed emotions ofconcern and denial.
The drive, which once bought himpeace.
Now stirs.
Something else.

(04:30):
And unspoken fear that he triesto ignore.
Every bump in the road, everyunexpected turn.
It feels a little sharper now.
A little less predictable.
But today he pushes through.
Determined to make it to thestore.
Just like always.
Back at Clarence's home onRobbins road, his wife, Betty

(04:52):
daughter, Ellen, and his son,Rick are increasingly aware of
his driving difficulties.
Their reactions are a mixture ofconcern.
Frustration and reluctance toconfront the issue directly.
Each family member has adifferent perspective.
Shaped by their relationshipwith Clarence and their own
experiences.
Uh, Ellen is the most concern.

(05:13):
She has noticed her father'sgrowing difficulties with
driving the minor accidents, thenear misses and his increasing
nervousness behind the wheel.
While she feels an urgent needto address the situation for his
safety and the safety of others.
She struggles with how toapproach the subject without
hurting his feelings or damagingtheir relationship.

(05:35):
I've seen dads struggle and itscares me.
But how do you tell the man whotaught you how to drive that he
can't do it anymore.
It feels like.
I be taken away a part of hisindependence.
Rick who lives on the other sideof town only sees Clarence
occasionally.
His perspective.
Is more detached and he realieson updates from Ellen.

(05:57):
He is concerned, but feelsconflicted because he isn't
there to see the day to dayissues.
He wonders if perhaps Ellen isoverreacting a bit.
Not fully understanding theemotional impact of such a
decision.
are you sure?
Is that bad?
Dad's always been a good driver.
Maybe he just needs to avoiddriving at night or taking
longer trips.

(06:19):
Betty Clarence's wife sees,Clarences declined every day,
but is in denial about theimplications.
She fears that discussing thedriving issue might lead to
broader discussions aboutClarence's ability to live
independently.
Betty flip flops betweendefending Clarence's need to
drive and her anxiety.
Every time he leaves the house.

(06:41):
Clarence loves his truck.
And driving to the store is justone of the few joys he has left.
But what if one day he doesn'tcome home safe?
As Clarence Clemons steers hisford truck down the road.
in Huntsville.
What begins as a routine trip tothe grocery store soon veers
into the unexpected.
With each turn of the wheelClarence's intentions blur like

(07:04):
the landscape whizzing past hiswindow.
Clarence was supposed to stop atthe local grocery store on
Winchester road.
A route.
He has driven countless times,but today he drives right past
it.
Oblivious to the stores,welcoming sign.
Flickering in his peripheralvision.
As he approaches theintersection, the traffic light
changes from yellow to red.

(07:25):
It's a signal he's observedfaithfully for decades.
Yet today.
He accelerates Blowing rightthrough without a moment's
hesitation.
Unscathed, but unaware.
Clarence grip, tightens on thesteering wheel.
The familiar roles of hishometown.
Now feels strangely alieninstead of slowing down or

(07:46):
turning around, he continues.
Driven by a compulsion.
He doesn't understand.
The city limits began to fadebehind him as he merges onto the
highway.
The truck eating up miles undera sky.
That seems as unclear as hismind.
As Clarence Clemons truck passedthe red light passing the store

(08:07):
and heading onto the highway.
His journey did not gounnoticed.
Among the other drivers on theroad that day is Tammy Thompson.
Tammy was a local teacher on herway to school.
She observed Clarence's erraticdriving with growing alarm.
Tammy watched as Claris trucksped up.
Cutting across lanes with noapparent regard for her safety

(08:28):
or any other drivers safety.
Her concern escalates quickly.
This is more than just careless.
Driving is potentiallydangerous.
Tammy gets out her phone.
9 1 1.
What's your emergency?
Hello, this is 9 1 1.
How can I help you?
Hi, I just saw a truck run, ared light and then speed onto
the highway.

(08:49):
The driver seems reallyconfused.
And it didn't look safe at all.
I'm worried he might cause anaccident.
Can you provide the vehiclesdescription and direction?
Yes, it's a blue Ford truck.
It's an older model is headednorth on highway 72.
The license plate started with HV 4.

(09:10):
Thank you.
Ma'am we'll dispatch a unit andcheck on the vehicle.
Can I have your name andcontact?
In case we need more informationof course is Tammy Thompson.
I'm just glad to help.
I hope he's okay.
With her call Tammy sets inmotion, a series of events that
ripple outward.
The local police now alerted,begin to coordinate a response

(09:33):
aimed at.
Safely intercepting Clarencebefore his confusion leads to
catastrophe.
As officer's mobilize clearanceremains oblivious to the
concern.
He sparked.
To him.
The road ahead is just a blur ofmotion.
His sense of direction, lost ina fog of confusion.

(09:54):
Now unwittingly at the center ofa high stakes drama unfolding at
breakneck speed on highway 72.
Heading towards Tennessee.
Clarence is not just distancinghimself from home, but also for
the safety, his family.
So desperately wishes for him.
Behind him, a procession ofpolice cars with flashing lights
and sirens blare.

(10:15):
A constant contrast to thepeaceful sunny day.
The officers are trained formoments like this.
To safely deescalate,potentially dangerous situations
involving confused anddisoriented drivers like
Clarence.
Unit six in pursuit of the blueFord truck.
Now heading north on highway 72,we need to approach with
caution.

(10:36):
He might be disoriented.
Copy that unit six.
Proceed with caution.
Attempt to guide the vehiclesafely off the road.
The chase is not marked by highspeeds or reckless maneuvers by
the police rather is a measuredattempt to protect Clarence and
other road users.
The officer's carefullycoordinate their efforts, using

(10:58):
their training to anticipateClarence's movements and create
a buffer zone around him.
Minimizing risk, whereverpossible.
As Clarence continues unaware ofthe full extent of his actions,
their goals shift from a simpletraffic stop to a rescue
operation, reflecting the dualresponsibility to enforce the
law and protect life.

(11:19):
Miles away from where the daystarted.
Clarence finally begins to slowdown the reality of his
surroundings slowly permeatinghis confused state.
The police see their chance andgently, carefully guide him.
To the road side.
Clarence stops at the side ofthe road.
And the police officers.
Run his license plate.

(11:40):
Mr Clemens.
I'm officer Bates.
You're safe now.
But we need to talk about whathappened.
On the shoulder of highway 72with the Tennessee landscape
stretching out in front of them.
The chase comes to a quiet end.
The police handle Clarence withcompassion, understanding the
fragility of his state.
They ensure he is comfortableand secure before contacting his

(12:03):
family.
With the assurance that he issafe for now.
Using the information fromclearances license plate, the
police dispatch an officer tohis residence.
The goal is to connect with hisfamily, to inform them of the
incident and to discuss crucialnext steps.
It's a connection that promisesto bridge the gap between
immediate crisis management andlong-term care solutions.

(12:24):
Good afternoon.
Ma'am I'm officer Lewis with theHuntsville police department.
May I come in for a moment?
I have some information aboutyour husband.
Oh, yes, please come in.
It's it's clear.
It's okay.
He went to the grocery store.
He should have been back by now.
Inside the house officer Lewishas met by Betty and also joined
by Clarence's daughter, Ellen.

(12:45):
First of all, I want to assureyou that your husband's safe.
He was a bit confused and endedup driving quite far from home,
but we've got him calm andresting in his truck right now.
We managed to stop him rightbefore he crossed into
Tennessee.
Thank you officer.
We've been worried about hisdriving, but didn't know how to
bring it up without upsettinghim.

(13:06):
What happens now?
Is there something we can do toprevent something like this from
happening again?
We don't want to take away hisindependence, but we know
something needs to change.
Officer Lewis experienced indealing with similar situations,
outlines a few options formedical evaluations that could
assess Clarence's fitness todrive.
To local programs that offertransportation for seniors.

(13:30):
He emphasizes the importance ofa family discussion about these
options facilitating a plan thatsupports Clarence's autonomy
while ensuring his safety.
It might be helpful to arrange afamily meeting with a social
worker or a geriatric caremanager.
They can offer guidance and helpmediate the conversation about

(13:52):
driving independence.
That sounds like a good idea.
It's past time we just want todo what's best for Clarence.
As officer Lewis leavespromising to check in later.
Uh, Clarence has family gathersaround the kitchen table.
United by a common purpose.
Today's scare has crystallized atruth.
They're all been avoiding, butnow feel ready to address.

(14:15):
It's not just about the keys tothe truck.
It's about navigating thedelicate keys of aging love and
respect.
Next time on the keys.
Join us as we explore howClarence and his family tackle
these tough conversations,finding pathways to adapt and
support each other through thechallenges of aging.

(14:36):
I'm Beverly Nance reminding youthat sometimes the hardest
conversations are the mostnecessary.
Introducing the take care oftime.
Respite box designed withcaregivers in mind.
Each box is filled with itemsselected to foster relaxation

(14:57):
and provide a well-deservedbreak.
Imagine unwrapping a cozy throw,a custom blend of calming tea.
a soothing scented candle thattransforms your space into a
sanctuary.
But it's not just about theitems, it's about what they
represent.
A reminder that taking care ofyourself is just as important as

(15:17):
the care you give to others.
It's about giving yourselfpermission to pause, to breathe
and to collect your strength.
This season allow, take yourtime and respite box to be a
part of your self care routine.
Visit takecaretime.com tosubscribe.
Your respite awaits.

(15:38):
Do you have an interestingcaregiver story that you would
like to have told, please emailus at podcast@takecaretime.com
we would love to hear from you.
Please note that this episodefeatures reenactments and
dramatize details.
While in most cases, the exactverbatim dialogue.
May not be known alldramatizations are grounded in

(15:58):
research.
To respect the privacy andconfidentiality of individuals
involved.
Names and some identifyingdetails have been changed.
Until next week.
Take care.
So You
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