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Alzheimer's, Dementia & Driving

Tips & Tools

People diagnosed with dementia rightfully want to drive for as long as it is safe. Family members must constantly weigh the need to respect a person’s desire to drive with the need for safety. The following tips and tools can help people with dementia and their families balance safety and independence and manage difficult decisions around driving.

Tips for drivers with dementia

The following tips can help drivers with dementia ease the transition from driver to passenger:

Confide in a friend or family member about what driving means to you. Help them understand what you have to give up when you stop driving.
Work with your family to create a transportation plan that meets your needs.
Consider the creating a written agreement with your family as a way to balance your independence with safety.
Volunteer to be a passenger. Allow others to do the driving.

Tips for caregivers

The following tips can help caregivers who are struggling to decide when to limit or stop driving privileges for a person with dementia:

Imagine for a moment your own life without driving. Allow your relative with dementia to express how he or she feels about not driving.
Initiate conversations about driving and transportation needs early and often.
Observe the person with mild dementia when driving.
Keep a written record of observable driving behavior over time.
Share observations of unsafe driving with the person with dementia, other family members and healthcare providers.
Create opportunities for you or others to drive the person with dementia.
Ask professionals outside the family to raise questions about driving safety.
Get information about driving evaluation services in your state or region.

Tools That Can Help

Not Going It Alone Worksheet

Support from others can reduce stress and increase chances for success. Your circle of support can include people inside and outside the family. Use this helpful worksheet to indentify your circle of support.

View Not Going It Alone Worksheet

Agreement about Driving

The Agreement about Driving can help caregivers and persons with dementia plan ahead for the time when the person with dementia must limit or stop driving. This informal agreement does not restrict driving at the moment of signing, but designates a person to take necessary steps to ensure driving safety in the future.

View the Agreement about Driving

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At the Crossroads

Family Conversations about Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia & Driving

This guidebook helps families determine when it's time for loved ones with dementia to stop driving and helps them cope with driving cessation.

Download or Order Free Guidebook

The Hartford is a
proud champion of the Alzheimer's Early Detection Alliance

Your Road Ahead

A Guide to Comprehensive Driving Evaluations

This guidebook describes the benefits of having a comprehensive driving evaluation from an occupational therapist with specialized driver evaluation training.

Download or Order Free Guidebook

Myth Buster Quiz

Take our true/false quiz to test your knowledge about safe driving for a lifetime.

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