Alzheimers, doctors, and driving.
Discussion
Having had two relatives that had Alzheimer’s, I know of the terrible condition, and the speed of which it consumes its host. Taking proud men and women, to empty shells, void of any memory/thought.
Unfortunately a friend of the family, a late 70's widow, with no surrounding family has within the last 6 months been diagnosed.
She has been accompanied to the doctors on several occasions, mostly with short term memory issues, however seemed stable and deemed fine to drive.
At this point i'd like to add she is only known via an 'Art class' and has distant family in Sussex who appear not to want to know about the Woman and her illness.
Within the last two weeks we have had up to 5 calls a night from the Lady, asking when her next appointment is, bills to be paid, and so forth. She has taken out new service contracts with no recollection, and has also walked a 20 mile trip for no reason, she forgot what she wanted when she reached the town. She has also on at least one occasion visited the hospital for her check-up even after being told the same day it was not for weeks.
Today she was again accompanied into the hospital for her 6 month check-up. Her neighbours had written a letter, with their concerns of her mental state and ability to live on her own, let alone drive.
The doctor was aware of the situation, confirming she had visited the hospital a few weeks before for 'her check-up' then being sent home, only to 'lose' her car.
Yet despite this, the doctor in question asked the woman to fill out her own form to the DVLA, telling them she has progressive Alzheimer’s. Further more he said she was fine to drive, and that social services will be in touch. When asked when he said he didn't know.
Now in the UK we have fairly safe roads, but i am appalled that a woman who is basically mentally impaired, is allowed to drive. I'm afraid after two previous dealing with the disease that we are trying not to get too involved, but the whole system doesn't allow for this to happen.
I feel like taking the car keys away, but know this will only cause more hassle for the Neighbours, who after 5 calls in the evening before her appointment to my mother (confirming her lift in) still spent the morning being asked to give her a lift in!!!!
utterly flabbergasted
Unfortunately a friend of the family, a late 70's widow, with no surrounding family has within the last 6 months been diagnosed.
She has been accompanied to the doctors on several occasions, mostly with short term memory issues, however seemed stable and deemed fine to drive.
At this point i'd like to add she is only known via an 'Art class' and has distant family in Sussex who appear not to want to know about the Woman and her illness.
Within the last two weeks we have had up to 5 calls a night from the Lady, asking when her next appointment is, bills to be paid, and so forth. She has taken out new service contracts with no recollection, and has also walked a 20 mile trip for no reason, she forgot what she wanted when she reached the town. She has also on at least one occasion visited the hospital for her check-up even after being told the same day it was not for weeks.
Today she was again accompanied into the hospital for her 6 month check-up. Her neighbours had written a letter, with their concerns of her mental state and ability to live on her own, let alone drive.
The doctor was aware of the situation, confirming she had visited the hospital a few weeks before for 'her check-up' then being sent home, only to 'lose' her car.
Yet despite this, the doctor in question asked the woman to fill out her own form to the DVLA, telling them she has progressive Alzheimer’s. Further more he said she was fine to drive, and that social services will be in touch. When asked when he said he didn't know.
Now in the UK we have fairly safe roads, but i am appalled that a woman who is basically mentally impaired, is allowed to drive. I'm afraid after two previous dealing with the disease that we are trying not to get too involved, but the whole system doesn't allow for this to happen.
I feel like taking the car keys away, but know this will only cause more hassle for the Neighbours, who after 5 calls in the evening before her appointment to my mother (confirming her lift in) still spent the morning being asked to give her a lift in!!!!
utterly flabbergasted
I have a friend/neighbour who is on the slippery slope. Her long term memory is fine and she can cope with everyday tasks, seemingly. She asked me the other day who the strange man in her house was (her husband). She is also driving and doesn't appear to have any problems doing so. My worry like yours, is what if she has a momentary lapse of concentration and drives into an oncoming vehicle. Her husband is well aware of her condition, but does not invite, or appreciate concerned friends interfering. Do I inform on her and to whom?
This seems to be something of a grey area, probably something to do with our general attitudes as a country to illnesses like Alzheimer's. My Dad was provisionally diagnosed last summer, and as yet nobody official has said a word about his ability to drive (or not to, as the case may be).
We're lucky, in that my Dad is sensible, and has more or less banned himself from driving- I take him everywhere now.
To say it's such a well known condition, the information and support available is bulls
t. My Gran went the same way ten years or so ago, and to the best of my recollection nobody really ever told the rest of us anything of use, be it about the medical side of things, sorting cars, bills, anything.
We're lucky, in that my Dad is sensible, and has more or less banned himself from driving- I take him everywhere now.
To say it's such a well known condition, the information and support available is bulls
t. My Gran went the same way ten years or so ago, and to the best of my recollection nobody really ever told the rest of us anything of use, be it about the medical side of things, sorting cars, bills, anything.My Dad died last October. He had Alzimers for the past 3 yrs and was 88. We were told that it's not really possible to be sure that a diagnosis of Alzimers is correct, as it is so much like dementia. Either way it's a difficult disease to handle for his Wife/ Children but he lived at home almost til the end. My Dad wanted to drive, he loved driving but we had to stop him shortly after the diagnosis. At times he resented this but mostly he just lost interest in driving and other things.
My Dad has short term memory loss, although we are assured it is not A or D.
Our Dr has him attending a memory clinic, and on tablets to assist (neither appear to do much)
Dr advised that IF Dad took the tablets, then he would have to declare to the DVLA that there was a problem, although he could continue to drive if he didn't
We had already stopped my Dad from driving & so this wasn't an issue.
However his driving wasn't dangerous, he still drove as well as he had when he passed his test 57 years before. The problem was he would forget where he was going and get lost, or sit at a junction not knowing where to go.
So long as someone was with him, he would be fine, but that is against the rules
Of far more concern is him cooking his lunch when he is left on his own (few & far between), and is far more distressing, Dad the one that has always done all the cooking in the house (when he wasn't at sea) and was bloody good at it (he was taught by the Chefs on board - if he wasn't in the engine room or asleep, he was in the galley helping chef). We've found the gas left on, lit fortunately! Pans burnt so badly they've had to be scrapped, as he forgets he's put something on, meat cremated to a cinder in the oven, the list goes on
He's diabetic controlled by tablets, he either forgets to take them, or takes them twice if he's not watched carefully
Our Dr has him attending a memory clinic, and on tablets to assist (neither appear to do much)
Dr advised that IF Dad took the tablets, then he would have to declare to the DVLA that there was a problem, although he could continue to drive if he didn't
We had already stopped my Dad from driving & so this wasn't an issue.
However his driving wasn't dangerous, he still drove as well as he had when he passed his test 57 years before. The problem was he would forget where he was going and get lost, or sit at a junction not knowing where to go.
So long as someone was with him, he would be fine, but that is against the rules
Of far more concern is him cooking his lunch when he is left on his own (few & far between), and is far more distressing, Dad the one that has always done all the cooking in the house (when he wasn't at sea) and was bloody good at it (he was taught by the Chefs on board - if he wasn't in the engine room or asleep, he was in the galley helping chef). We've found the gas left on, lit fortunately! Pans burnt so badly they've had to be scrapped, as he forgets he's put something on, meat cremated to a cinder in the oven, the list goes on
He's diabetic controlled by tablets, he either forgets to take them, or takes them twice if he's not watched carefully
Went through the driving thing with my dad a few years back, big hurdle. Started with him not knowing the way home but as long as Mum was with him she could usually direct him. However there were a few occurances of him snapping and on one occaision they spent a whole afternoon driving around with him shouting obscenities at my Mother. In the end he stopped near some police, she jumped out and they took his keys.
He drove for another couple of days until I took him to the doctor - he wouldn't go before that, and he got 0/10 on their memory test. The Dr still wouldn't tell him he couldn't drive - they are reluctant to make that statement. I had to tell him. He didn't drive again - at first he was a problem with that but to be honest soon accepted it.
He has a mix of Az and Vascula Dementia, as far as they can determine. Can no longer do anything for himself, can't talk and is now losing the ability to swallow. Been in a home for 2 years, Is a stty way to go - he's 72 in March
As for the OP, it maybe an accident before anyone officially removes the keys, it still needs someone to tell the DVLA to get the license revoked.
He drove for another couple of days until I took him to the doctor - he wouldn't go before that, and he got 0/10 on their memory test. The Dr still wouldn't tell him he couldn't drive - they are reluctant to make that statement. I had to tell him. He didn't drive again - at first he was a problem with that but to be honest soon accepted it.
He has a mix of Az and Vascula Dementia, as far as they can determine. Can no longer do anything for himself, can't talk and is now losing the ability to swallow. Been in a home for 2 years, Is a s
tty way to go - he's 72 in March As for the OP, it maybe an accident before anyone officially removes the keys, it still needs someone to tell the DVLA to get the license revoked.
FightTheFuture said:
This seems to be something of a grey area, probably something to do with our general attitudes as a country to illnesses like Alzheimer's. My Dad was provisionally diagnosed last summer, and as yet nobody official has said a word about his ability to drive (or not to, as the case may be).
We're lucky, in that my Dad is sensible, and has more or less banned himself from driving- I take him everywhere now.
To say it's such a well known condition, the information and support available is bullst. My Gran went the same way ten years or so ago, and to the best of my recollection nobody really ever told the rest of us anything of use, be it about the medical side of things, sorting cars, bills, anything.
Agreed, very steep learning curve, we had some great support once my Dad was diagnosed from the local CPN and Mental Health unit, took 2 years to get him there though! but there were a lot of times when the only info came from Google and the Folks on the Alzheimers forum.We're lucky, in that my Dad is sensible, and has more or less banned himself from driving- I take him everywhere now.
To say it's such a well known condition, the information and support available is bulls
t. My Gran went the same way ten years or so ago, and to the best of my recollection nobody really ever told the rest of us anything of use, be it about the medical side of things, sorting cars, bills, anything.My Mother has just been diagnosed with Dementia & I've had to get the Doctors & Police involved to stop her driving
I managed to get the Doctor & the Police to have a meeting with my Mother & myself & they told her basically they wouldn't let her drive & informed the DVLA
It was very stressful having to do it but I would never have forgiven myself if she caused an accident :-(
I managed to get the Doctor & the Police to have a meeting with my Mother & myself & they told her basically they wouldn't let her drive & informed the DVLA
It was very stressful having to do it but I would never have forgiven myself if she caused an accident :-(
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