Q. Although my 79-year-old older sister quit smoking a few years ago, she has COPD, which makes it hard for her to walk long distances. I keep telling her she should get a handicapped pass for her car, to make it easier for her when she shops, etc. She says it’s too hard to get one. Who’s right?

A. Disability placards and license plates can be a real game changer – allowing an older adult to park in the designated parking spots that are closest to the places we need to go. There are a few steps involved in getting one, so it’s understandable that your sister feels overwhelmed. But the good news is it may be easier than she thinks.

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has a form that must be filled out by both the person applying for a pass and their doctor that explains their accessibility needs. You can qualify for a disability placard if you and your doctor certify that you’re unable to walk more than 200 feet without stopping to rest, can’t walk without the help of someone else or an assistive device, have certain lung or heart conditions, or arthritis, to name a few. Since your sister has trouble walking long distances, she may qualify under the walking-distance rule alone. She only needs to have one condition on the list to be eligible.

You can find the complete list of conditions, along with the application on the RMV website at mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-disability-placard-or-license-plate. The website also lists the official address where your sister can mail her application once she and her doctor have filled it out. Allow some time, since it typically takes about a month to process. If she has any questions, she can call the RMV Medical Affairs office at 857-368-8020.

There’s no fee for a disability placard, which your sister can take with her whether she’s driving herself or riding along with you or someone else. If she wants to get a special license plate for her car, that costs $60 every two years.

Whether you need it to get to a doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, or want to go to a favorite restaurant, a disability placard can make getting around easier. The independence it brings may just be worth the paperwork.

Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org. 

Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.