 What would you do if your spouse were driving down the highway and became slightly confused when it came time to take an exit? Or if this same person brushed a curb while driving down the road? For many people, this situation would not be alarming.
However, if the person driving has cognitive impairment, these seemingly innocent incidents may be perceived in a much different light. Family members and friends of people with dementia often ask: What should I do if I see my loved one having trouble with driving? How long can safe driving continue after a person has a diagnosis of dementia? How can I speak with my loved one about what I’ve seen in a sensitive and productive way? For those who receive the diagnosis of dementia, limiting or giving up driving is a tremendous milestone, one described by many caregivers as among the most diffi cult issues they face with their partner. Driving is deeply connected to our sense of independence, control and identity. And knowing when a person with dementia should limit or stop driving is an issue with which many—people with dementia, caregivers, and health providers alike—struggle.
To address this important issue, researchers at the BU ADC (Dr. Robert Stern, Principal Investigator) have teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) AgeLab and the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. on an innovative study examining a novel educational program on driving and dementia.
The goal of the study is to provide family caregivers the information they need to make decisions about driving that are best for everyone involved. The study intervention assists caregivers in many ways: identifying and interpreting driving warning signs; planning for productive conversations with a loved one about driving changes; enacting strategies for putting support in place; and working with a doctor on the driving decision. The study is geared not only to caregivers with active concerns about their loved one’s driving, but also those who would like to plan ahead for the future. In providing caregivers with the information they need, we hope to encourage a transition (when the time is right) that maintains the dignity and independence of the person with dementia, and encourages driving safety.
As one participant commented, “I would recommend this study because it is useful in providing the confi dence and tools to assess and address the driving issue.” Previous study sites have included Lynn, Concord, and Milton. The study is currently recruiting caregivers throughout Eastern Massachusetts for educational groups. Sites being considered include Worcester, Brockton, Malden, Dartmouth, Attleboro, Sandwich, West Roxbury, Cohasset, and Duxbury. For more information, please contact study research assistant Jennifer Hunter at 617-414-1188 or study coordinator Stacy Carruth at 617-414-1187.
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