← Return to No more Driving

Discussion

No more Driving

Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Sep 9 6:33pm | Replies (131)

Comment receiving replies
@harleyshaw

I deeply appreciate your comments. My wife is conscious of and missing the freedom to just get in the car and go. Her family home is about 6 hours away, and she'd like to visit there as in the past. Truth is that she can no longer manipulate a gas pump or use a credit card. She tries to talk to everyone and is a perfect candidate to be a victim if alone. She simply rejects the idea that they wouldn't renew her license. We do have people who will drive her, but she feels insulted when they offer. She loves to tell them how to drive, when a turn is coming, and how fast they should be going. Its a difficult time, and I'm afraid one we'll just have to endure.

Jump to this post


Replies to "I deeply appreciate your comments. My wife is conscious of and missing the freedom to just..."

Hi @harleyshaw, it sounds like you have your hands full trying to keep your wife safe.
Is your wife on any medications?
The neurologist prescribed an anti-depressant for my husband because he was engaging in obsessive behaviors. He does that less now, and he's still alert. He's tolerated the medication well for a few years.
Recently our HMO referred us to a geriatrician, which was helpful.
Is referral to a specialist a possibility for you or one you can pursue?

My husband with LBD still provides me with turn-by-turn driving instructions - punctuated with “stop”, “go”, “yield”, etc. I can’t even describe for angry & frustrated that made me at first! Now I view it as a positive - he knows where we are & where we are going. And he still recognizes traffic signs. So it’s a good gauge of his lucidity. The challenge is to never accept what he says without first checking for myself - especially at an intersection! In some small way, tolerating his driving guidance validates & makes him feel useful.