Do elders need a state ID?

In NY a person must show photo ID at doctor’s office visits along with an insurance card. My mother lives in an AL and uses their physician as her primary so she doesn’t have to show ID. However, when she goes to her cardiologist or other outside physician she does. I still use her driver’s license that expired five years ago and have never been questioned. Just renew her license . It’s not like she’s going to use it to drive.

In Maryland, you can request DMV to come to your home to take a photo. Maybe your state offers similar services? Call them.

IYou're probably better off renewing her driver's license, unless you live in a really organized, uncrowded state. I called the DMV in San Francisco about getting my mother an ID in May of 2019; they said they'd call when they could get someone out to us. She passed away in November. I'd cancel, but you can't reach humans there these days...

She will need a valid ID at some point. I suggest renewing her driver's license online since many more people will have this option available during COVID.

Our mom’s ID and license expired on her 80th birthday during Covid and we are not trying to get an appt to go in person to get a renewal. She’s not driving anymore anyway and thankfully we renewed her passport in November so that’s all she needs for ID and to travel. You can get a passport by mail.

Upon moving from Minnesota, Texas DMV came to my parents' AL. We did all the paperwork and they even brought a blue cloth to hold up behind them for the photo. I believe I had to call Secretary of State office in Austin to get it done in San Antonio. Local DMV offices had no info on this service.

My mother's license expired three years ago and she didn't renew it. The expired one is accepted fine - at doctor's offices, banks, for prescriptions - since it has a picture. She's in assisted living and is 84. I wouldn't renew the DL if I were you. Why spend the money for a new DL?

You have received some really good answers. I just wanted to say that I also had to get both of my parents driver's licenses redone when I moved them to my town. It was so hard getting them to the DMV and waiting to get to see someone. While we were waiting they called our number but by the time I had walked them to the window they had called another number and told us we had to start again. I had a meltdown right there and just took them home. I immediately wrote an email to my State representative, copied the head of the DMV and several news agencies with the subject "90 year old parents denied DMV identification cards". Within hours I had the DMV and my State representative begging to send someone to my parents apartment to issue new cards and take their pictures.
I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment before in my life.

Quite often the Secretary of State will go into facilities and set up "shop" and do ID's for residents. They will often go into Senior Centers as well.
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.

My mom stopped driving several years ago. When her license expired we used it for ID for a couple months but then the docs and therapists told us we needed to get a state ID. This is in Ohio so it may vary by state. A couple times when she has had to go to the hospital it was used for ID as well. Check your local laws and see what is required for ID in your state.