Community Chat

[Jordan2]

When you are a danger to yourself and others on the road, it's time to take the car keys away ( no matter someone's age).

[Sooner]

I think you shouldn't focus too much on age but rather than the individual.  How are they functioning all together? Are they alert and are their reaction times within reason?

Where do they drive?  Down to the corner CVS?  All over town?  On the interstate at 90 miles an hour while brushing cigarette ash off the seat (like my mom did)?

Is it critical that they do drive as long as possible?  

I'd say you have to look at the individual and their situation and needs.  No need to group everyone as an age, race, or gender.  Just look at that person for who they are and what their abilities and needs are. 

I have friends I've ridden comfortably with who were driving at 90 and ones who I wanted to cower in the floorboard or bail out of the car alltogether with who were in their 40's. 

[GCR18]

I think you know when the person should stop driving.  Minor incidents are something I take seriously.  My mother is 83 and drives.  She's brought up the topic of no longer driving.  She's already promised her car to her 16 year old granddaughter.

[SilleeMee]

The time to stop driving can't come soon enough for me. I absolutely hate driving. I hardly ever drive and sometimes I wonder why I even own a car. Most of the time I spend driving is when I go grocery shopping or when I need to see my doctor. The rest of the time I usually go with friends who drive wherever. 

I should call a cab and save money on car maintenance, gas and insurance...seriously.

[Nightowlz]

When they start having issues. She should not be using her cell phone while driving. Tell her the call can wait until she gets where she is going.

My MIL is 89 & still driving. She has not had any problems yet.

My dad was still driving when he passed away last year at 87. He should not have been driving. He was diabetic & could not feel his feet. We told him he should not be driving.

[mom2four0418]

Can you imagine the outrage if we were discussing a young adult driver endangering the lives of others on the road? Since she is no longer capable of driving safely, getting her off the road is an immediate necessity.

[kittyloo]

this came up recently for some friends of mine, and a parent. he too was having minor "incidents" and close calls, and quite frankly no one wanted to be in the car with him when driving. (frightening)  They had a talk with his dr. and the dr. was the one who told him he should not be driving anymore. he didn't really like it, but since the dr. was the one who told him, and not his son, he listened. 

[grandma2pkmh]

@barb40  That's a hard call to make, thank goodness my Dad made the decision himself when he was alive.  As far as the cell phone goes, if she has an iphone there is a setting which prevents the phone from ringing when a person is driving. I use it and my grandchildren use it even though it is now illegal in my state to use a cell phone when driving.

[Trix]

It is illegal in many states to use a cell phone while driving.  Apparently your mother-in- law does not live in one.  In states where this law exists, if the police came on the scene where she ran into the curb, she could have received a moving violation ticket for that incident.  You may also consider installing one of those hands-free devices to hold the phone on MIL's dashboard which is used with a bluetooth earpiece since she must be the type who can't let a beep on the cell phone go unanswered. That way when she's in the car it shouldn't be quite as dangerous as her trying to hold onto the phone and the steering wheel at the same time.   

[LTT1]

@barb40 

There are some suggestions about the topic of driving on the alz.org site...the forum is called “Alzheimer’s connected.”

The problem as I see it is that the mind stops being able to process two things at once... focusing enough to read meaningfully is an indicator of this.

So in a touchy driving situation (and there can be many) the brain would “make a dive for” the thing that might usually be prioritized.