| Naomi was hopelessly lost. As she drove, absolutely | | | | re-examination. They may include police officers, |
| nothing looked familiar. She noticed a fluttering in her | | | | judges, state's attorneys, physicians, family members, |
| stomach. She had to admit that she was in a lovely | | | | neighbors, friends, or other drivers. In some states, all |
| area, with large shade trees and a lovely lawn, but | | | | older drivers must take driving tests for annual |
| there were no houses where she could stop to ask | | | | renewals. Check with your state's driver's licensing |
| directions. And the road seemed so narrow. She was | | | | authority to see what rules and procedures exist for |
| starting to feel confused again. And there was | | | | revoking driver's licenses for impaired drivers.If your |
| nowhere to turn around. So she stopped the car and | | | | loved one's driver's license is ultimately revoked, he or |
| placed the gearshift into park.Some time passed | | | | she should get a state issued photo identification card |
| before a groundskeeper noticed the car on the golf | | | | to use for check cashing, air travel, and other |
| course cart path. He called the police. A patrolman | | | | uses.Protecting Insurance CoverageEven with a |
| checked Naomi's identification and called her husband. | | | | doctor's advice not to drive, or a driver's license |
| The police officer then notified the state driver's | | | | revocation, a person with Alzheimer's may still get |
| licensing authority that Naomi should be | | | | behind the wheel. He or she may forget that driving is |
| retested.Knowing when and how to take away the | | | | no longer allowed. Or, stubbornness, anger, or |
| keys to the car is one of the most troublesome issues | | | | frustration may encourage him or her to grab the keys |
| facing families who have a loved one with the illness. | | | | and hit the road. If that happens and an accident |
| As we age, our eyesight and hearing may worsen. | | | | occurs, serious consequences-beyond the risk of |
| Depth perception plays tricks. Our reaction time slows. | | | | personal injury or death to the driver, passengers, or |
| These elements of normal aging may interfere with | | | | others-may result.For example, although some state |
| our ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. For someone | | | | laws require insurance companies to honor claims |
| with Alzheimer's disease, these normal processes are | | | | involving insured motor vehicles, even if driven by an |
| complicated by additional symptoms related to the | | | | unlicensed driver, an insurance claim can be challenged. |
| disease's effect on the brain. In fact, studies show that | | | | Insurance coverage may be cancelled. And future |
| a person with Alzheimer's disease has twice the | | | | applications for motor vehicle insurance can be denied. |
| chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident | | | | In some states, insurance companies can cancel |
| as a driver of the same age without the illness.While a | | | | policies if a driver's license is revoked, regardless of |
| person in early stages of Alzheimer's disease may | | | | whether an accident has happened or not. Should a |
| retain the ability to drive a motor vehicle, as the | | | | driver without coverage become involved in a motor |
| disease progresses, the time is likely to come when he | | | | vehicle accident, his or her assets will be at risk from |
| or she is no longer safe behind the wheel. At the | | | | claims by accident victims for property damage or |
| same time, the person with Alzheimer's disease will | | | | personal injury.These issues are particularly important |
| cling to whatever sense of independence he or she | | | | for an unimpaired spouse of a person with Alzheimer's |
| can.The American Psychiatric Association says that | | | | disease. Insurance cancellation will jeopardize the |
| some Alzheimer's patients with moderate impairment | | | | spouse's insurability. Acceptance under a new policy |
| and all severely impaired patients pose unacceptable | | | | may be difficult because of the spouse's older age. |
| risks to themselves and others behind the wheel of a | | | | And the new policy may cost much more than the |
| motor vehicle. Even those in early stages of the | | | | previous one. State insurance laws vary, and some |
| disease may be unable to drive even short distances | | | | states have regulations pertaining to such |
| safely. Depending on the individual, family members and | | | | situations.One option is for the impaired driver to |
| others have a responsibility to assess the situation and, | | | | exclude himself or herself from the policy, enabling the |
| when necessary, step in and take away the | | | | unimpaired spouse to continue insurance coverage. But |
| keys.Warning SignsHow do you know when to restrict | | | | if the excluded driver drives anyway, a claim for |
| driving privileges in a person with Alzheimer's disease? | | | | personal injury or property damage to the driver's car |
| Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable riding | | | | may not be honored to the full extent of the policy's |
| with him or her-or letting your children ride along-you | | | | limits. (Liability claims by others would likely be paid, |
| may have unconsciously decided that the time has | | | | however.) If that happened, the policy would most likely |
| come. Another indicator is the person's inability to | | | | be canceled.Action Steps for Family |
| follow a recipe or perform simple household tasks. | | | | MembersDepending upon your loved one's abilities and |
| These types of activities require some of the same | | | | desire to drive, regardless of driver's license status or |
| mental abilities necessary for safely operating a motor | | | | doctor's orders, family members can take steps to |
| vehicle.Deterioration in the ability to concentrate, as well | | | | prevent an impaired driver from operating the car. |
| as impairment of judgment seen in people who have | | | | Here are six steps you can take:1. Sell the car. If the |
| Alzheimer's disease, add to the concern about such | | | | car won't be driven, it makes sense to sell it. However, |
| patients driving motor vehicles. According to the | | | | Americans love their cars. Some even name them the |
| Alzheimer's Association, some things to watch for | | | | way they would name a pet dog or cat. If your loved |
| include the following:1. Getting lost.Anyone can get lost | | | | one is attached to his or her motor vehicle, your |
| in an unfamiliar area. Those with Alzheimer's disease | | | | suggestion to sell it may meet strong objection, even if |
| may become disoriented and be unable to find his or | | | | the impaired driver seems to understand that driving is |
| her way in familiar locales.2. Ignoring traffic | | | | no longer allowed. If the loved one wants to keep the |
| signals.Failure to notice or obey stop signs, traffic lights | | | | car, or is comforted by seeing it in the garage or |
| or other highway markers may mean the driver didn't | | | | driveway, you can disable the car so it can't be |
| notice them. In addition, the driver may have lost the | | | | driven.2. Hide the car keys. If the car remains in the |
| ability to associate the sign with its meaning. He or she | | | | family, someone must control access to all copies of |
| may see the sign, but not know what it means.3. Lack | | | | the keys. Lock them in a safe place unknown to the |
| of judgment.Inability to estimate the speed of oncoming | | | | impaired driver.3. Replace the car key. If the impaired |
| traffic, deciding whether to stop for a yellow light or | | | | driver resists or refuses to hand over his or her set of |
| slide through the intersection, or becoming confused at | | | | keys, quietly replace the car key with one that looks |
| a four-way stop sign are some examples of poor | | | | like it, but that doesn't work in the vehicle.4. Remove |
| judgment while driving. Being slow to make decisions-or | | | | the tires. Removing the tires will disable the vehicle, but |
| making poor ones-when driving can result in accidents | | | | in some residential areas, parking a car on blocks is not |
| that can harm the driver, as well as others on the | | | | allowed, except-perhaps-in an enclosed garage. Check |
| road.4. Driving too fast or too slowly.Erratic driving at | | | | with your local jurisdiction before taking this step.5. |
| inappropriate speeds can indicate a lack of | | | | Disable the vehicle. Ask a mechanic to show you how |
| concentration, as well as poor physical coordination. It | | | | to disconnect the car's battery or how to disconnect |
| may also indicate poor judgment.5. Anger and | | | | the coil wire between the coil and distributor. If a |
| confusion.You don't have to have Alzheimer's disease | | | | spouse or other household member needs to use the |
| to experience road rage. Frustration during driving can | | | | car, reconnecting them is relatively easy.6. Park the car |
| make anyone flustered or angry. If the driver has | | | | elsewhere. Park the car down the street, around the |
| Alzheimer's disease, however, watch for frequent | | | | corner, or out of sight in a neighbor's garage to make it |
| occurrences of anger or confusion, as well as | | | | inaccessible.Look for AlternativesA person who has |
| inappropriate or exaggerated reactions, while | | | | been driving for decades and who takes pride in his or |
| driving.Taking Away the Car KeysIf your family | | | | her independence will likely resist attempts to restrict |
| member's ability to drive is impaired, you have a moral | | | | driving privileges. That independence is difficult to give |
| responsibility to take action to keep him or her off the | | | | up, especially in neighborhoods without good public |
| road. However, accomplishing this goal may not be | | | | transportation systems. The person may not want to |
| easy. Any suggestion that car keys be relinquished | | | | burden friends or family to get where he or she wants |
| could be met with resistance, frustration, anger, or | | | | to go.In modern American culture, driving is important. |
| hostility-especially when it comes from a family | | | | For many, it involves self-esteem and status as well as |
| member who may already be providing care by | | | | mobility. For these reasons, those who have |
| assisting with activities of daily living like bathing, | | | | Alzheimer's disease are unlikely to admit difficulties |
| dressing, and meal preparation.Ask the DoctorMany | | | | they are experiencing when driving. So, family |
| Alzheimer's families turn to the loved one's physician | | | | members and physicians must balance the person's |
| for help with the issue. Your loved one may more | | | | convenience with the safety of the driver, as well as |
| easily accept advice not to drive from a health care | | | | passengers and other drivers on the road.When |
| professional he or she has an established trust | | | | restricting driving privileges becomes an issue, you can |
| relationship with. For one thing, a doctor is often seen | | | | ease the transition by investigating alternative methods |
| as an authority figure. For another, such a third party | | | | of getting from place to place. Here are some choices |
| can discuss the situation objectively and | | | | you can make available to your loved one in place of |
| dispassionately with less chance of offending your | | | | a personal motor vehicle.1. Friends and family.Are you |
| loved one on a personal level. Many doctors | | | | willing to provide all or part of your loved one's |
| understand the need for this intervention and will be | | | | transportation needs? What about other family |
| willing to comply with requests of this nature from | | | | members? If friends say, "let me know if I can do |
| family members. In some cases, doctors will write the | | | | anything to help," suggest they give your loved one a |
| words "Do Not Drive" on a prescription slip. In others, | | | | ride to the grocery store, hairdresser, or doctor's |
| you may need to ask the doctor to file a request for | | | | appointment. You can also ask for volunteers at your |
| re-examination of your loved one's driving abilities by | | | | place of worship.2. Public Transportation.Gather |
| the state driver's licensing authority.Contact the State | | | | information about bus routes, train schedules, and taxi |
| Licensing AuthorityAll states have a system in place to | | | | services. See whether they offer discounts for older |
| require retesting of persons with mental or physical | | | | individuals or those with disabilities. Calculate round-trip |
| impairments. However, state laws and re-examination | | | | fares from your loved one's home to frequently visited |
| processes vary. They may include medical evaluation, | | | | locations, such as the grocery store, doctor's office, |
| as well as written and road tests. Laws also vary | | | | barber shop, or library.3. |
| concerning who is authorized to request | | | | |