The Experience of Driving Cessation in Dementia: Examples from Ontario and Alberta

Abstract

Background: The rise in the total number of seniors will lead to a considerable increase in the prevalence of persons with dementia (PWD), the number of senior drivers and the amount of drivers with dementia. Understanding how this life event is experienced by PWD and their caregivers is paramount to policy development and planning. Methods: Descriptive qualitative study using secondary data. There were 25 participants over the age of 65, whose monthly phone call conversations were analyzed using analytic induction, to find links and create a theoretically based hypothesis regarding the experience of driving cessation. A standardized questionnaire was used to guide the telephone data collection. Results: PWD may experience emotions of anger when they don’t understand why they are no longer allowed to drive. When PWD understand why they are no longer allowed to drive, they seem to accept and self-regulate their driving cessation. Cognitive tests and physicians instructing PWD they have to cease driving, are not perceived to be helpful in this understanding. Public transportation and alternate means of personal transportation are potentially associated with the acceptance of driving cessation. Conclusions: PWD might not understand the link between cognitive assessments, their memory, and their driving performance. A systems level approach to improved access to transportation and on-road driving tests might make it easier for PWD to understand and accept the lifestyle changes that come with driving cessation.