DRIVING AND DEMENTIA
DID YOU KNOW?
* There are currently over 161,000 persons in Georgia diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease.
* Up to 67% are at risk of wandering and becoming lost. Wandering does occur by vehicle.
* Due to their inability to make good judgements, the person with the disease does not have the ability to make quick decisions and no longer has good perceptual abilities which limits their ability to drive; it is a safety issue for them.
* Often times, the person becomes lost, runs out of gas, and/or runs into something or off the road.
* There are driver assessment programs in the Atlanta area that the Alzheimer's Association can put you in contact with today.
* Look for signs such as forgetting how to locate familiar places, failing to observe traffic signals/signs, making slow or poor decisions in traffic, driving and inappropriate speed, or becoming angry while driving.
If you observed any of the warning signs in someone you know, you can:
1. Control access to the car keys
2. Disable the car
3. Consider selling the car
4. Alert the Department of Driver Services
YOU CAN GET HELP
Since the person often leaves without identification and becomes disoriented and confused beyond the ability to remember places or even who they are, enroll them into the Nationwide program through the Alzheimer's Association called Safe Return at 800-272-3900.
For questions on warning signs, risks involved with driving or any dementia related issue, please call the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900.