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Is there a legal way to force my dad to stop driving before he hurts himself or others?

Question:

My dad has dementia due to Parkinson's. He also has diabetes, which affects his eyesight and sensitivity in his feet. The problem is that he insists on still driving. Today, he ran over the neighbor's mailbox, and insists the brakes weren't working (they're fine).

Other times he has gotten lost, weaved into oncoming traffic, and otherwise demonstrated unsafe driving. His doctors won't tell him to stop, even though my mother has told them how unsafe my dad's driving is. My brother and I have both pleaded with him to stop, but he refuses. Is there a legal way to force him to stop before he hurts himself or others?

Answers:

#1. One good resource is a booklet produced by The Hartford. The information can be accessed at: www.thehartford.com/talkwitholderdrivers or call the Alzheimer's Arkansas office for copies (800-689-6090). We can also "brainstorm" about possible ways to keep an older family member from driving.

Hints from previous caregivers include: hiding the keys, selling the car, disabling the car, getting the doctor to write a "prescription" (if current doctor won't help, find another one), get insurance agent or lawyer to talk to the person.

The driving safety evaluation at Baptist can be reached at 202-7007. With a doctor's order, Medicare will cover the cost. Otherwise the cost is $275.

-Phyllis Watkins

#2. His doctor can refer him to Baptist Rehab Institute (BRI) in Little Rock for a driving safety evaluation by an occupational therapist (OT), or the State Police can ask him to take the full driving test again for his driver license. Autonomy stops where public safety is concerned.

That incident in California not long ago, where an impaired elderly man killed 10 people and wounded more than 30 others by driving his car through a crowded sidewalk should wake up any skeptic. Dr. Sheila Cassidy, a psychologist at UAMS Reynolds Geriatrics has a keen interest in this issue; please contact her for further recommendations. Her phone number is 501-526-5799 Ext. 1028.

-Pham H. Liem

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