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Chapter 13 - Driving and Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2022

By
Catarina Lundberg  and
Dorota Religa
Edited by
Mathieu Vandenbulcke ,
Rose-Marie Dröes  and
Erik Schokkaert
Mathieu Vandenbulcke
Affiliation:
KU Leuven, Belgium
Rose-Marie Dröes
Affiliation:
Amsterdam University Medical Centre
Erik Schokkaert
Affiliation:
KU Leuven, Belgium
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Summary

Most people with early-stage dementia lead relatively independent lives and many remain active drivers for several years after diagnosis. Independent mobility and driving are important features of their quality of life and enable the individual to continue living at home, thus reducing the financial burden on society. However, dementia-associated cognitive impairment can impact the ability to drive safely. This leads to a potential conflict between the individual’s autonomy and the safety of other road users. Regulations concerning drivers with dementia differ across countries, and clinical assessment procedures to determine fitness to drive differ within and across countries. No single examination method can classify a driver as safe or unsafe with complete certainty. Once a person with dementia has been cleared for driving, regular follow-up is necessary to determine when driving should cease. Clinical experience shows that the issue of driving is sensitive for cognitively impaired people and caregivers. Even a severely impaired person may react strongly when learning that driving is no longer permitted, as this represents a threat to his or her self-esteem as well as a practical challenge. This needs to be recognized and dealt with appropriately in the healthcare context, presenting and discussing alternative modes of transportation.

Keywords

automobile drivingdementiacognitive impairmentfitness to drivedriving assessmentdriving regulationsclinical examinationcaregiverpsychological reactionsmobilitydriving cessation
Type
Chapter
Information
Dementia and Society , pp. 251 - 266
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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