tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post8306127298961542647..comments2024-01-04T09:23:45.843-05:00Comments on Watching the Lights Go Out: The Question of DrivingDavid Hilfiker http://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-42500931994476223732014-02-18T15:59:23.784-05:002014-02-18T15:59:23.784-05:00For anyone interested: I checked into the website ...For anyone interested: I checked into the website that Debra suggests and it looks like a good possibility of getting a good driving simulator. This looks pretty thorough and I'd recommend at least taking a look at it.<br />DavidDavid Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-54812553060030012732014-02-13T02:41:17.425-05:002014-02-13T02:41:17.425-05:00Hi David - I didn't see your question to me ab...Hi David - I didn't see your question to me about details for the driving simulator until these many months later…..seems I am still learning things about my computer! <br /><br />http://www.samhealth.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Services/Rehab/DrivingSimulator.pdf<br /><br />This is a link from one of our area hospital therapy departments about the simulator with a very small photo of it. Hope that helps track down a resource for your readers. Debra Kauffman Fantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-9672745405420178982013-07-02T21:08:58.505-04:002013-07-02T21:08:58.505-04:00Ultimately, I'm afraid, it's going to be i...Ultimately, I'm afraid, it's going to be in the hands of spouses, partners, children, and friends to make sure that the person who is losing their ability to drive stops driving. Some of us wil recognize our disability, of course, but driving is so important in our culture that many will keep driving well beyond their competence. Thirty years ago, it was socially unacceptable to confront someone who'd had too much to drink to tell them they couldn't drive. It's still difficult but at least few disagree with the theory that the rest of us need to make sure the drunk don't drive. It's no different with AD; someday, we'll probably look back and say: "How did we not know that; how did we let that go on so long?"David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-36333981119835070842013-07-02T15:38:44.622-04:002013-07-02T15:38:44.622-04:00Agree this is brilliant. I stopped riding with or...Agree this is brilliant. I stopped riding with or letting my mom drive my son anywhere years ago, then realized if I wouldn't subject us to her, why was I subjecting the general public to her driving? Clincher came with a letter from police department. Also, an elderly driver here killed a cyclist last year while attempted to pass on the shoulder, and was finally indicted for it. I don't want to be in that family's position, or have her in that driver's position. I feel for her loss of independence, but whatever cognitive abilities she has left--I still have mine and I could not live with knowing she killed someone and I should have prevented it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-14649083146457195202013-05-28T19:35:00.986-04:002013-05-28T19:35:00.986-04:00Hi, Debra. It seems to me that this driving simul...Hi, Debra. It seems to me that this driving simulator could be extremely important for people with any kind of dementia at any stage. Do you know any details?<br />Thanks for writing.David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-16896499117612941022013-05-28T06:54:34.813-04:002013-05-28T06:54:34.813-04:00Hello, David...one resource available in the last ...Hello, David...one resource available in the last few years is a computerized driver's simulator that is showing up in OT therapy departments where someone with questions about driving acuity can get an objective review of their problem solving, response time, coordination, and visual ability. I haven't heard any feedback about how helpful it is from those who have been using it, but it seemed to me that it could make that decision easier for people with impairment and for their families. I'm not sure about payment for the evals either -- it would seem sensible for insurers to pay but then again that doesn't seem to hold much water in other areas of medical reimbursement, unfortunately. <br /><br />Greeting you from Oregon - a former wife of RPAP'er 1977! Thank you for your sharing here - I will find it very useful in my nursing care of elder clients in my home care services. Grateful to you for your primary care those many years ago! My best to Marja as well.Debra Kauffman Fantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-16623649460028532412013-05-19T18:10:39.342-04:002013-05-19T18:10:39.342-04:00My mother was not a "good, careful" driv...My mother was not a "good, careful" driver to begin with, but when she began getting lost (and having to be found and brought home) and getting into fender-bender accidents, my sister and I discussed the situation. Mom lived with my sister in a city about 100 miles from me. I believed that my sister should take away the car keys, but my sister didn't want to fight with my mother over the issue. I was afraid that Mom would injure someone. After a few more incidents, my sister finally decided to disconnect the battery in Mom's car. Mom believed that the car wouldn't run anymore without extensive repairs that she didn't want to pay for and that stopped my mom from driving anymore.<br /><br />I haven't had any diagnosis, but no longer feel that my driving skills are good enough for me to continue driving. My husband drives wherever we go. Riding in the car is kind of scary to me so I stay at home most of the time. I am actually becoming agoraphobic as well.Classof65https://www.blogger.com/profile/15620524862669295761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-46872614145217511502013-05-17T23:21:15.216-04:002013-05-17T23:21:15.216-04:00For any of you who are wondering whether to make p...For any of you who are wondering whether to make proactive decisions about driving, here is a story sent to me by a reader:<br /><br />My mom has Alzheimer’s and before she was diagnosed, 4 years ago, I was concerned about her driving her truck in the country—I had a sickening feeling when I heard that there was an accident caused by a truck (sounded like my mom’s) that pulled out in front of an oncoming car which swerved around the truck only to be hit by another truck. The troopers were asking anyone for information about the mysterious truck that left the scene. The troopers did not find that truck. I still think it might have been my mom. The driver killed was in his 40’s. I took mom into the neurologist to take away her driving. She previously dented in someone’s car and also got lost driving home from the store. Sad, but she is quite comfortable letting me do the driving for her. <br /><br />These are important decisions!David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-88738831885490506412013-05-17T22:44:16.545-04:002013-05-17T22:44:16.545-04:00This is a wonderful response to such a difficult q...This is a wonderful response to such a difficult question. It's another of those reasons for knowing one's diagnosis early and being able to work out plans for the future. In making plans and going over issues in advance, we avoid some of the defensiveness that can come when the moment is upon us and the caretaker "springs" it on the person with Alzheimer's. And you and your husband have a driving date every two weeks that cements the decision. it takes a good deal of trust between you, but I would think it creates and reinforces trust, too.David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-26855729341828146372013-05-17T22:31:41.883-04:002013-05-17T22:31:41.883-04:00That's an important thought, Lee Ann, that had...That's an important thought, Lee Ann, that hadn't occurred to me. Caregivers may have a legal responsibility to make sure the patient doesn't drive. It makes it even more important that the caregiver takes responsibility for deciding when to drive. Several people in these comments and emails sent directly to me have described agreements written up in advance between the person with Alzheimer's and the person who will be the caregiver, that the former will be the decision maker regarding driving.<br />I've received two very painful emails in which the caregiver didn't know what to do so the patient continued to drive with tragic results.David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-47355278465403009862013-05-17T17:18:23.912-04:002013-05-17T17:18:23.912-04:00What a good example of why awareness is so much be...What a good example of why awareness is so much better than denial. jmojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13108760337271048086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-6602812610929080922013-05-17T12:13:25.490-04:002013-05-17T12:13:25.490-04:00While being in the driver's seat is an importa...While being in the driver's seat is an important measure of independence, I think we need to begin to prepare for the loss of it in the same way that we prepare health care powers of attorney and financial POAs. I entered into an agreement with my husband early on in my journey with Alzheimer's that he would determine how long I would drive. I am still driving five years post-diagnosis. He makes sure that he rides as my passenger approximately every two weeks to see how I'm doing. For my part, I've started exploring alternate means of transportation for some activities so that I don't have to rely totally on him when I'm not driving.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07960305992233295304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-46900382869726244312013-05-17T09:48:53.622-04:002013-05-17T09:48:53.622-04:00And the good news (or bad) is that you would never...And the good news (or bad) is that you would never be sitting in a courtroom being asked about why you were driving. Your family members could be asked in a courtroom why they thought you were okay to drive. So I guess its up to our loved ones to take away the keys. <br /><br />A good example of what I am saying. My Father did not have AD, we found out later that he had a brain cancer (he was in the first landing party in Nagasaki and the dust was falling everywhere. And he had skin cancer problems his whole adult life). He was living alone, widowed, and told my brother (his POA) "If I could find a woman to move in and take care of me, I'd sign over the house to her." My brother called me up frantic, worrying that he'd find some floozy somewhere, move her in and sign over the house. I told Steve, "He has a diagnosis of dementia from the cancer. He's not responsible for a contract." He could sign the house over to every woman in town, but he cannot sign contracts. Once his doctor or POA decides that he's not cognitively aware enough to sign a valid contract, the living will kicks in and my brother became POA. Sad to say. but in this case, the legalities take over to protect him. My Dad willingly gave up his keys. But not everyone does. Before he became unable to drive, he only drove to two places. His doctor's office and Walmart. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02560132598266108913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-41943520757309373432013-05-17T09:41:13.975-04:002013-05-17T09:41:13.975-04:00Thank you for sharing this information. It makes t...Thank you for sharing this information. It makes the difficult decision of taking mom's keys so much more clear. I appreciate you taking the time to share what you are learning through this journey. This blog is one of God's gifts to me, as I walk through this disease with my mom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-12373213163328984172013-05-16T22:42:32.063-04:002013-05-16T22:42:32.063-04:00This is one of the places where the researchers wo...This is one of the places where the researchers would disagree with what most of us believe. The research indicates the people are lousy at knowing when they should stop. Your own sense of how long you can keep driving doesn't correlate with the results of an on-road-driving-test. It's a problem.David Hilfiker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-29721255287277029312013-05-16T15:31:27.018-04:002013-05-16T15:31:27.018-04:00Dear David,
As with any activity: do it as long ...Dear David,<br /><br />As with any activity: do it as long as you really enjoy it. You'll know.<br /><br />Regards,<br />EdwardAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02102633906367786640noreply@blogger.com