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Dementia

Dementia and Driving: When Is It Time to Stop?

John Trevey on Feb 26, 2023
Dementia and Driving: When Is It Time to Stop? - The Breckinridge Memory Care - Lexington, KY
Table of Contents
  1. Dementia and Driving

Dementia and Driving

Most older adults will face a day when driving is no longer a safe option, but for those who are living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, that day may come sooner than it does for most.

Giving up driving is difficult. Even if the person living with dementia or Alzheimer’s has a supportive network of family or a caregiver who can help with transportation, not being able to drive yourself is a loss of independence and signifies a new phase of life where more and more independence could be taken away.

For those who do not have the privilege of family or a caregiver who can help with transportation, they may wonder how they will get to the grocery store, pharmacy, church or other places they frequent.

This is why the topic of driving with dementia is important and should be addressed early, as soon as you or a loved one is diagnosed, so you can make safe, informed decisions that empower the person living with dementia rather than strip him of his feeling of independence.

How does dementia affect driving?

Dementia and Driving: When Is It Time to Stop? - The Breckinridge Memory Care - Lexington, KY

Symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s include memory loss, disorientation and decreased cognitive abilities. Some forms of dementia such as frontal temporal dementia affect your mobility and movement. Since dementia is degenerative, meaning it gets worse with time, eventually anyone who is diagnosed with any form of dementia will not be able to drive because strong cognitive abilities are essential for safe driving.

Consider everything drivers must be aware of:

  • speed limits
  • directions
  • cars beside, in front of and behind you
  • traffic signals
  • road signs and warnings
  • exits and on-ramps
  • construction
  • blind spots
  • intersections

Driving requires you to be mentally sharp at all times, aware of any potential danger to yourself or others. If your cognitive function is declining, if you can’t remember where you’re going or the rules for a four-way stop, you will endanger yourself and others.

Taking on the Role as a Care Partner for Someone with Dementia - The Breckinridge Memory Care - Lexington, KY

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When should dementia patients stop driving?

As soon as you receive a dementia diagnosis, you should seek an independent driving evaluation. The Alzheimer’s Association in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends getting an evaluation done by an occupational therapy driving rehabilitation specialist. This type of specialist will be able to determine the driver’s current level of function and if he or she can continue driving for the time being or if other options should be considered.

It’s important to note that these evaluations are for those with early dementia. Someone who has progressed to the moderate or severe stage of dementia should stop driving immediately. Someone with mild dementia should also likely stop driving but can seek an evaluation first.

It’s also important to note that once you have a diagnosis, you should not rely on your own assessment or evaluation to decide if you can continue to drive nor should you rely on a loved one’s or caregiver’s opinion. Seek a proper evaluation from a specialist who can see things you can’t and will be able to provide a proper and full evaluation.

You can also talk to your or your loved one’s doctor. A neurologist or geriatrician can ask a series of questions to determine cognitive abilities and decide if driving would be unsafe or if the best next step is to receive an evaluation from an occupational therapist.

You can search for an occupational therapist near you who specializes in driving rehabilitation and evaluations at the American Occupational Therapy Association website here.

How do you stop someone with dementia from driving?

For loved ones and caregivers who have been told by a specialist or doctor that their loved one can no longer drive, the next natural question is: how are we going to take away their keys?

First, you shouldn’t simply hide their keys. That will only upset them and aggravate the situation. Instead, approach this subject carefully. Remember, telling an adult who’s lived an independent life for 40 or more years that she can’t drive anymore is traumatic. You are taking away one of her greatest measures of independence: an ability to go where she wants when she wants. And this will be the first of many independent privileges dementia will take from her.

The Alzheimer’s Association suggests planning out the conversation beforehand. Tell your loved one your concerns. Focus on the driving evaluation or a recommendation from a doctor to no longer drive to keep the conversation neutral. And know that this will probably be the first of many conversations about your loved one’s ability to drive or perform other daily functions.

The Alzheimer’s Association also notes that you can get a prescription written by a doctor that prescribes your loved one to retire from driving. This could help legitimize your request and make your loved one see the severity of the situation.

No matter what you do, be sure to list all options still available to your loved one for transportation. Make sure to have a plan in place that you’ve discussed with other family members or caregivers that addresses who will drive your loved one to certain places on what days and at what time. Let your loved one know that he will be able to go where he needs to when he needs to and how you are going to make that happen, whether you or a caregiver will personally drive him, or if you’ve set up a rotation with friends and family members who can chip in when needed.

For those who don’t have family or a caregiver for transportation, the Alzheimer’s Association has an excellent list of resources that provides information on how those who are living with dementia can find local transportation. Some of these resources include:

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center

Publictransportation.com

Elder Care Locator

2-1-1 (a helpline for those who need access to immediate local resources)

Learning you are no longer able to drive or having to tell this to a loved one is incredibly difficult. Don’t take the conversation lightly. Research your options and find out as much information as possible about alternative transportation solutions, so you or your loved one can feel equipped and cared for during this transition.

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at The Breckinridge!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

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