Alzheimer Society session to help families navigate dementia and driving

Participants of the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s danced it out before embarking on the charity march last month. The Alzheimer Society is hosting a session aimed at dementia and driving on Aug. 18.

By: Galen Simmons

For many people living with dementia, giving up the keys can be one of the most difficult transitions they face. An upcoming education session hosted by the Alzheimer Society Perth Huron aims to make that conversation easier.

The society, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, will host a Dementia and Driving education session Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m. The session will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend in person at the society's Stratford office or virtually through Zoom.

Jessica Lawson, public education coordinator with the Alzheimer Society Perth Huron, said the session was created after she noticed more people in the community struggling to understand how cognitive changes associated with dementia can affect driving.

"Driving is one of the most common things we do in the community. It's how we get from here to there," Lawson said. "It's not to tell someone they can't drive. We're not telling people when to give up their licence. It's more about that education piece and that support and how to have those conversations."

The session is open to people living with dementia, family members and care partners, health-care providers, friends and anyone interested in learning more about the topic.

Lawson said driving depends on a range of cognitive abilities, including memory, judgment, attention, problem solving, reaction time and visual-spatial skills. Because dementia affects everyone differently, there is no single point at which a person should stop driving.

"There isn't one single sign that tells us it's time for someone to stop driving," she said. "It really differs from person to person and overall functioning."

However, she said warning signs can include getting lost on familiar routes, becoming confused behind the wheel, slower reaction times, difficulty making decisions at intersections or roundabouts, unexplained dents or scrapes on a vehicle, or increasing concern from family members.

Beyond explaining how dementia can affect driving, the session will outline the Ministry of Transportation's medical review process and connect participants with community transportation options available when driving is no longer safe.

"If someone loses the ability to drive, that is a huge loss of independence," Lawson said. "Just because you lost your driving ability doesn't mean that you can't still get from A to B."

Ultimately, Lawson hopes the session encourages people to start talking about driving before it becomes a crisis.

"When we talk about it early, approach it with compassion and understand the resources available, we can help people living with dementia and their families navigate these decisions with confidence and dignity," she said.