Aging Drivers and the Law
For better or for worse, our current culture is very car-dependant; in many places, cars are the only convenient link to the...
Read moreDriving is a symbol of independence in our culture, and those who drive want to be able to do so as long as they can. However, as our loved ones get older there may come a time when they need to stop driving, especially if they have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. So how do you know when it is time for them to stop and how do you tell them?
First it is important to know the signs of unsafe driving. Some of these signs include: driving at inappropriate speeds (either fast or slow), trouble staying in a lane, difficulty seeing the side of the road, problems making turns, getting lost frequently, having a slower response rate, stopping for no reason, getting frequent tickets, and being easily distracted while driving.
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Once you know there is a problem with a loved one, you need to decide the best way to address it. The following are some steps you can take to try to break the news as painlessly as possible:
If the driver has Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, these steps may not be enough. The lack of a driver's license may not deter an individual with dementia. To stop this driver, you may need to hide keys or disable the car. To prevent the driver from calling a mechanic to get the car started, you may need to place a sign under the car's hood to call the caregiver before fixing the car. For more on Alzheimer's disease and driving, click here.
For a checklist on "When to Put the Brakes on Elderly Drivers," click here.
For more information on aging drivers and the law, click here.
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