- Try a frank discussion with the person about a driving
problem you noticed. Be tactful and gentle in your approach, not
confrontational.
- Arrange for someone else to drive.
- Get support and agreement from others (family,
physician,, clergy, attorney, friends, etc.)
- Let the physician (or advisor the persons trusts) take
the lead in telling the person they can no longer drive; have them
write a letter to this effect, or prescription.
- Have insurance agent provide written documentation
that the person will no longer have insurance coverage.
- Blame not being able to drive on the long wait for
test results or the insurance company, not on the person's inability to
drive.
- Do not leave the person in the car alone while it is
running or the keys are in the ignition.
- Co-piloting is not recommended. There is not
enough time to cue someone in a hazardous situation.
- Reduce the need to drive (e.g., arrange for
prescriptions/groceries to be delivered, for friends to come over
regularly, to drive the person to regular stops or to take the person
out regularly, etc.)
- Don't assume that taking away a driver's license will
discourage driving. Be prepared.
- Don't put off the issue if the person is a danger to
themselves and others. The caregiver could be held legally liable
if they knowingly allow a demented person to drive and they get in an
accident.
- Get the BMV to revoke the person's license. Call
our helpline (888-303-0180) for the guidelines to follow.
- Experiment with ways to distract the person from
driving (e.g., someone else should drive because taking new route, bad
driving conditions, medications make the person too drowsy, you want
the person to enjoy the scenery, etc.)
- Control access to the keys.
- File down key so that it no longer works or put a
wrong key on the person's key ring.
- Disable the car (remove the distributor cap or starter
wire, or instal battery with "on/off" switch)
- Move the car so it is out of the person's vision (park
down the street, etc.)
- Consider selling the car.
- Be firm and positive about not driving. Don't
waiver in the decision, but avoid arguing about it or giving long
explanations for why the person cannot drive. (Say something
like, "Until the doctor is finished running tests, you cannot drive" OR
"because you are on medication", etc.) Spend your time and energy
helping to preserve the person's dignity by focusing on the things they
can still do an enjoy.
- Get a non-driver State ID card for the person for
check cashing and other identification needs.
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