Driving and Dementia: How to Know When It’s Time to Take Away the Keys (KFOR-TV)
A diagnosis of dementia is not in itself a reason to stop driving. But as memory and decision-making gets worse, at some point it will no longer be safe to drive.
Watch Segment on KFOR-TV
While most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, in the early stages, the medical consensus is that driving performance should be the determining factor of when to stop driving, not the disease itself.
It’s also important to realize that as driving skills deteriorate over time, a person with dementia may be not be aware of their worsening problems and may be unable to realistically assess their abilities. So, it’s very important that adult children work closely with their elder patent or other loved one, and their doctor to monitor their driving and protect their safety. Here are some tips and tools that can help.
WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS
The best way to keep tabs on an older parent’s driving ability is to take frequent rides with him or her and watch out for warning signs. For example: Do they have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Do they drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate, drift between lanes or fail to observe traffic signs? Do they react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your parent had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on their vehicle? All of these are red flags.
If you need some assessment help, hire a driver rehabilitation specialist who’s trained to evaluate older drivers. See Myaota.aota.org/driver_search or Aded.net to locate one in your area.
TRANSITION TIPS
Through your assessment, if you believe it’s still safe for your parent to drive you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure their safety, like driving only in daylight and on familiar routes, and avoiding busy roads and bad weather. Also, get him or her to sign a dementia “driving contract” that designates someone to tell them when it’s no longer safe to drive.
You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (like Bouncie.com or MotoSafety.com) to help you monitor them. These devices will let you track where they’re driving and allow you to set up zones and speed limits that will send you alerts to your smartphone when they exit an area, or if they’re driving too fast or braking harshly.
TIME TO QUIT
When your parent’s driving gets to the point they can no longer drive safely, you’ll need to talk to them. It’s best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before they need to quit driving so they can prepare themself.
You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help them get around after they stop driving.
For tips on how to talk to your parent, the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence offers a helpful guide called “At the Crossroads: Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and Driving” that you can download here.
REFUSES TO QUIT
If your parent refuses to quit, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to their doctor who can give them a medical evaluation, and prescribe that they stop driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family.
If they still refuse, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. Some states will automatically revoke a license when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, while many others require retaking a driving test.
If these fails, consider hiding their keys or you may need to take them away. You could also disable their vehicle by disconnecting the battery, park it in another location so they can’t see it or have access to it, or sell it.