There is no easy way to confront your loved one about their driving skills – especially when they view it as their last means of independence. But yet we hear horror stories of older adults causing a terrible accidents. We wonder ‘will that be my parent? When do “I “ step in and take their keys?’ Then we ask questions and get answers like “just hide their car keys” or “tell them the car is in the shop and they will forget about driving!” You know, they don’t forget and they find those hidden keys…

Then we expect their physician to magically have the answer to this difficult decision. In reality, there are no easy decisions or ways to address this most difficult issue. But the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and the MIT AgeLab conducted a research study and created a guide to help people dealing with this specific situation http://www.thehartford.com/alzheimers/.

The Hartford Brochure  - “At the Crossroads” is a wonderful resource for anyone who is having conversations and/or thoughts about stopping a person with dementia from driving (http://www.thehartford.com/alzheimers/brochure.html). This guide was developed to assist people with dementia and their families prolong independence while encouraging safe driving. http://www.thehartford.com/alzheimers/

This guide provides suggestions for monitoring, limiting, and stopping driving while addressing the following areas:
• Why dementia and driving is a difficult issue
• Assessing concerns about driving behavior
• Monitoring driving behavior
• Easing the transition from driver to passenger
• Having positive and productive conversations
• Seeking help from outside sources
• Understanding how family relationships affect driving decisions
• Advice from caregivers who made this decision

The guide also covers many warning signs including but not limited to a decrease in confidence while driving; difficulty turning to see when backing up; easily distracted while driving; incorrect signaling; and scrapes or dents on the car, mailbox, or garage.

A key recommendation is to document and share with other family members and health care providers the frequency, type, and severity of accidents/incidents and any patterns of change. Remember that everyone has isolated incidents, but it is when there are patterns that conversations and decisions need to be made. However, if your loved one is confusing gas and break pedals or stopping in traffic for no apparent reason – it is time for immediate action. 

These additional sites may also assist you:

• American Occupational Therapy Association [301-652-2682]
  www.aota.org/olderdriver
  Excellent general information, self assessments, and important links
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [1-888-327-4236]
  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
  Has fliers about many medical conditions that affect driving