Dear Annie: A bed and breakfast owner is concerned that her elderly guests may get hurt.

Dear Annie: I run a small bed and breakfast in a small, thriving rural town. We have recently had a number of guests in their 90s who have had health issues or injuries while staying with us. This makes me feel very comfortable.

Many of these people grew up in this city and want to come back to visit family or see the many new developments in our city. While this is nice, I think the travel and unfamiliar surroundings can make some older people very uncomfortable. We don’t want to discriminate based on age, but we are concerned that people may be putting themselves in danger by coming here, especially if they are not accompanied by other family members or friends.

What is the gentlest way to determine if a guest can handle the trip? I don’t want anyone to get hurt or worse.

Thank you. — The Innkeeper

Dear Innkeeper: There is no polite way to tell people based on their age that they cannot stay with you – it is age discrimination. While your concerns are valid, a young person or baby could also be injured in your B&B.

If you are concerned, you can consult a lawyer to create a document that would protect your bed and breakfast from any liability. But what is this city where so many people live to be 90 years old? No wonder it is booming!

Dear Annie: For the past 10 years, my husband and I have been dining out with a few friends, always splitting the bill evenly. Recently, we have adopted a more sober approach and no longer consume expensive drinks that add significantly to the bill. Despite this, we continue to split the bill evenly, which doesn’t seem entirely fair.

We value our friendship and we value our time together, but we’re not sure how to approach this topic. We don’t want to seem cheap, but we also want to be fair. Is it weird, rude, or impolite to ask everyone to pay for their meals and drinks in the future? — Sober and Confused

Dear Sober and Confused: How much longer are we going to talk about? If it’s one or two drinks, I’d let it go. It’s nice to treat your friends. If you really feel like you’re being treated unfairly, you can always order an extra side or dessert, but I think that would be petty.

If it really bothers you, why not ask the waiter to give you two bills: one for you and your husband and one for your friends? If they ask you why you changed, be honest and explain the reason. You don’t drink anymore. And congratulations on that!

Send your questions to Annie Lane at dearannie@creators.com.

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