Toolkit Gives People with Dementia, Families Resources for Driving Decisions

​Individuals with dementia rarely plan to stop driving and often report that they plan to drive “as long as possible” despite increased safety risks to themselves and others; indeed, the decision to stop driving is seen as one of the hardest to make because of the accompanying loss of independence and perceived loss in meaning of life, according to an article in the November 2013 BMC Geriatrics. The article describes a toolkit, developed by the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario and the Champlain Dementia Network, that is intended to make planning for this decision easier for people with dementia, their families, and their caregivers. The toolkit includes red flags and warning signs that users can look for in themselves or others, as well as prompts to revisit driving safety with physicians every 6 to 12 months, even if driving currently appears safe.