Safe Driving and Alzheimer"s
Whether a person with Alzheimer's should be allowed to drive is a common dilemma faced by people with the disease and their caregivers.
It is obvious that persons driving skill deteriorate with age and time; and when it comes to a person with Alzheimer's, the situation becomes more difficult.
Studies have shown that a person with Alzheimer's is twice as likely to get involved in a vehicle accident compared to a person of same age but without the disease.
Therefore, it is important for family members and caregivers to work closely with the patient to monitor and regulate driving and ensure the safety of the patient and others on the road.
Alzheimer's affects short term memory and motor skills, so they get lost easily, sometimes even on a familiar location or road.
Losing way, however, does not necessarily create a hazard on the road.
A decline in visuospatial skills, a skill that helps drivers to judge distances and predict upcoming traffic problems, plays a large role in making people with Alzheimer's unsafe drivers.
Drivers with Alzheimer's may also have trouble prioritizing visual cues.
An irrelevant sight, such as dog jumping behind the fence, may distract them, so they fail to notice important cues, such as break lights or traffic signs.
As Alzheimer's diminishes reasoning skills, it is often up to caregivers and family members to determine whether their loved ones become unsafe on the wheels.
Warning signs of unsafe driving includes: oOften gets lost even on familiar route or in familiar locations.
oDrives too slowly or too fast.
oDoes not obey traffic signs and signals oDoes not seem to notice other cars, pedestrians or cyclist on the road.
oProblems with changing lanes and taking turns.
oConfusing the break and gas pedal.
oMakes poor driving decisions.
oReacts slowly to driving situations.
If someone wants to be tested to determine whether they are still safe drivers, they can seek local resources such as diagnostic programs in hospitals or taking a motor vehicle department.
It is obvious that persons driving skill deteriorate with age and time; and when it comes to a person with Alzheimer's, the situation becomes more difficult.
Studies have shown that a person with Alzheimer's is twice as likely to get involved in a vehicle accident compared to a person of same age but without the disease.
Therefore, it is important for family members and caregivers to work closely with the patient to monitor and regulate driving and ensure the safety of the patient and others on the road.
Alzheimer's affects short term memory and motor skills, so they get lost easily, sometimes even on a familiar location or road.
Losing way, however, does not necessarily create a hazard on the road.
A decline in visuospatial skills, a skill that helps drivers to judge distances and predict upcoming traffic problems, plays a large role in making people with Alzheimer's unsafe drivers.
Drivers with Alzheimer's may also have trouble prioritizing visual cues.
An irrelevant sight, such as dog jumping behind the fence, may distract them, so they fail to notice important cues, such as break lights or traffic signs.
As Alzheimer's diminishes reasoning skills, it is often up to caregivers and family members to determine whether their loved ones become unsafe on the wheels.
Warning signs of unsafe driving includes: oOften gets lost even on familiar route or in familiar locations.
oDrives too slowly or too fast.
oDoes not obey traffic signs and signals oDoes not seem to notice other cars, pedestrians or cyclist on the road.
oProblems with changing lanes and taking turns.
oConfusing the break and gas pedal.
oMakes poor driving decisions.
oReacts slowly to driving situations.
If someone wants to be tested to determine whether they are still safe drivers, they can seek local resources such as diagnostic programs in hospitals or taking a motor vehicle department.
