Elder Law Help in Austin for Alzheimer’s Care - brought to you as a service of The Willie Elder Law Firm, Brian T. Willie, J.D., we are located at 3755 Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 295 • Austin, TX 78704 • (512) 478-0834 (By Appointment Only). For more information, please visit our website Willie Elder Law in Austin, Texas.
If your loved one is not obeying traffic signals, driving an inappropriate speeds, hitting curbs, confusing the brake and gas pedals or swerving back and forth between lanes, they are a danger not only to themselves, but to others on the road and should not continue to drive.
It’s likely that your loved one will become angry and upset when you approach them about not continuing to drive. They’ll feel as though their independence and dignity is being taken away and will be reluctant to rely on others for transportation. It’s essential that you remain sensitive but firm, hearing your loved one out but insisting that they no longer operate an automobile.
In some cases, you’ll discover that your loved one is continuing to drive even though they promised they would not. To prevent them from injury themselves or others, there are several ways in which you can limit their driving.
First of all, speak to your loved ones doctor and ask them to write a “do not drive” prescription and send it to the Department of Motor Vehicles and show it to your loved one. Control access to their car by holding on to their keys, parking it on another block or in the driveway of someone you know.
If your loved one continues to drive, despite the fact that they no longer have a legal license, you may need to disable the vehicle by removing the battery or distributor cap.
Taking away the driving privileges of an Alzheimer’s patient is an exhausting process that could leave your loved one feeling like they’ve lost their freedom and family members feeling guilty for taking that freedom away. It’s important to be sensitive to your loved ones needs and arrange for other modes of transportation so they can continue to go about their daily routines.
Above all, Alzheimer’s patients tend to mourn for their independence and feel useless relying on others to do the things that they used to do for themselves. Maintaining a relatively normal schedule can offer stability and a strong sense of self-satisfaction, for both you and your loved one.
