Taking away the keys to a car or a driver's license to someone with the early stages of dementia may seem abrupt, extreme, disrespectful or punitive. Read these tips to start that conversation with your loved one.
There are an estimated 5 million people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with some form of dementia, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common form. If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia, you'll struggle with a number of challenges as a caregiver, medical, legal, financial, and daily care. You will also have to decide when that person should no longer drive.
Most information about patients with dementia warns against driving. Even in the early stages of dementia or mild cognitive impairment, one or more functions of the brain can be affected and pose a risk when driving. For instance, reaction time can be slowed. Not only is there mechanical confusion to worry about, but there is also the possibility of getting lost. On top of all that, there are non-dementia related issues such as hearing, vision, and depth perception.
Source: sarahcare.com