At-risk drivers with Alzheimer's disease: recognition, response, and referral

Abstract

Objective: This manuscript addresses the following questions for licensing authorities: 1) Are drivers with Alzheimer's disease (AD) an issue that should concern licensing authorities? 2) What critical driving skills impacted by AD should authorities recognize? 3) What should their response be? 4) Do licensing authorities have a role in providing information about or referral to community agencies that offer alternative transportation options and other services?

Methods: To address issues important to licensing authorities the authors reviewed pertinent driving and dementia literature.

Results: Drivers with AD have unique impairments that should be recognized and responded to early on in the disease process, with sensitivity and respect for continued mobility. As the disease progresses and they must stop driving, former drivers and their families could benefit from resource referrals that provide information about transportation alternatives and support services in their communities.

Conclusions: The authors believe that drivers with AD should be a concern for licensing authorities. Licensing decisions and policies to assess and regulate drivers are in the end made individually by each state. Policymakers will make their decisions based upon current research and concerns of their constituency and need to consider a seamless approach to addressing safe mobility. Licensing authorities are an important partner along with individuals, family members, health care professionals, social service providers, researchers, and policymakers in assuring public safety and individual mobility. All of the partners should confront the concern directly-none should "look the other way." The goal is to keep people driving safely for as long as possible. The responsibility is to recognize, respond, and refer when driving safely is no longer assured.