Neurology Doctors Issue Driving Guidelines

Memory loss often sneaks up on someone.  One type of memory loss, Alzheimer's Disease, involves confusing time, person and place.  This leads to many difficult moments, especially during the beginning stages of the disease.  One minute someone is fine and the next minute they don't know where they are or where they are going.

The American Academy of Neurology has issued new guidelines to help seniors and their families determine when it is time to stop driving if they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another time of dementia.

As driving laws in all 50 states vary greatly - some require in-person driving tests at a certain age and other states do not - there is no easy way to wrestle the keys from a senior who is not in agreement with giving up driving.  Because of this, families often turn to their doctors for assistance.

The guideline from the AAN recommends doctors use the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale to identify people with dementia at an increased risk of unsafe driving.  The CDR provides a tool for clinicians to integrate information from caregivers and from direct examination of the patient to develop a comprehensive view of the dementia severity.

The guidelines also found that caregivers should trust their instincts.  A study found that caregivers who rate a patient's driving as "marginal" or "unsafe" were often proven correct when the patient took an on-road driving test.  On the other hand, patients who deemed their own driving as "safe" were not necessarily accurate in their own assessments.

Doctors, patients and caregivers must also know their state laws, since some states require that doctors report any medical conditions that may impact their ability to drive safely.

Caregiverlist also offers training videos and care briefs to assist with caring for seniors with dementia.  Planning ahead for care needs when memory loss is first diagnosed also helps families to be prepared as the needs escalate. Find out the actual costs of nursing homes in your area and receive pricing from quality senior home care agencies.