Giving Up Their Independence – When Alzheimer’s Patients Can’t Drive
August 18, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
I think one of the most discouraging situations for Alzheimer’s patients, and possibly for family, too, is the “You can’t drive anymore scenario.” This often creates a big hassle.
Even without someone having Alzheimer’s, there often comes a time when their reflexes aren’t so good, their eyesight may be failing, stiff or arthritic joints keep them from moving swiftly, and their hearing may not be acute. For someone who is accustomed to driving, loss of independence ,when they are no longer able, can be a shattering experience.
However, at some time, driving must be curtailed…before they injure themselves or someone else.
*With my mom, an accident while driving, resulting in 14 stitches in her head and total damage to her car, made the decision automatic. Although Mother wanted to get a new car, I couldn’t let her. She was no longer safe on the road. Just the day before this happened we were discussing how to take the keys from her. This was a new situation, and we were trying to find out where to turn when Mother’s accident occurred.
With my father-in-law, the family began to realize he wasn’t a safe driver. Discussion with him proved unsuccessful and somehow he found the extra set of keys. So family members disabled the car and kept delaying “getting it fixed.” He finally lost interest in driving and seemed content to let others drive him.
My neighbor’s aunt didn’t pass her sight test, and her doctor informed her that new glasses wouldn’t help enough to enable her to drive. She accepted this although she was frustrated and upset.
However, it often is very difficult. They even may pass a driving test and receive a license renewal, when you know they’re not safe on the road.
Check out several resources:
The Alzheimer’s Association – Driving with Alzheimer’s
The Hartford – Alzheimer’s, Dementia & Driving
The Mayo Clinic – Alzheimer’s: When to Stop Driving
How to determine driving ability in Alzheimer’s disease.
When to take the keys from Alzheimer’s patients.
(Amazon image: click for details. Incidentally this is one of my favorite films and reminded me so much of situations with my mom, a very independent lady.)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
