With the aging of the “Baby Boomer” generation, more and more drivers on the road are above the age of 60, and as a recent Newswise article, “Physicians Enlisted in Effort to Keep Demented Drivers off the Road,” points out: some of these drivers may be suffering from cognitive impairments or even dementia.
The article is quick to point out, despite the harsh-sounding title, that just because the population is aging, doesn’t mean that all drivers over 60 have dementia. The main purpose of these recent studies is to work together with Alzheimer’s and elder associations to find a way to keep aging drivers safe on behind the wheel.
Physicians are now being trained on the CDR, or Clinical Dementia Rating system, which with a series of questions, helps in determining if a patient is suffering from symptoms of dementia. The physician can then report his or her findings and recommend that individuals be prevented from driving due to unsafe medical conditions.
Those who report individuals that they believe shouldn’t be driving are allowed to do so anonymously. The individual who has been reported is then given the opportunity to prove that they are still fit, if they wish, by providing their state with a statement from their physician, and sometimes by retaking their road test.
The issue is a difficult one, as a person’s driver’s license is seen as a symbol of their freedom and independence. Losing that independence isn’t easy, and neither is coping with dementia. If you or someone you know is facing a similar situation, please check out the following links for more information:
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