Read more about this and find out what happens if DVLA/DVA decides a person with dementia can keep driving. Admiral Nurses give families the compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions they need to face dementia with more confidence. The first step for someone who is diagnosed with dementia and wants to keep driving is to tell DVLA/DVA about their diagnosis straightaway. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. If an on-road assessment is required, then the DVLA will refer the licence holder to a centre close to them. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. The assessment will be at one of 20 approved driving assessment centres around the UK, or at one of their related ‘satellite’ centres (see Driving Mobility centres under ‘Driving – other resources’). If DVLA/DVA decides that a person with dementia can keep driving, they will send them a new driving licence. To find out about driving and dementia laws, you can call the Department of Motor Vehicles for the state in which the individual resides. 5.3 Prior to any assessment of dementia or cognition (and especially within a memory clinic setting) it is good practice that a person is notified that there could be implications for their future driving.2 This includes notifying the DVLA, your insurance company and GP. Dementia UK provides specialist dementia support for families through our Admiral Nurse service. Involve the person with dementia in the planning and decision-making 3. The driving assessment is carried out by a specialist occupational therapist and an advanced driving instructor. If DVLA/DVA asked for the assessment, the centre will send them a report. Stopping driving can mean a loss of independence for a person with dementia and therefore it can help to encourage them to take more control over other aspects of their life, for example, finding other means of transport. A thorough assessment is likely to require two visits along with collateral history from family members. It is a good idea for those close to the person with dementia to stay aware of their driving skills. Some centres have a private road that the person drives around first. Tel: 020 8036 5400 You may then be asked to take a driving assessment. We can be contacted by telephone on 0300 300 2240 or by email at info@rdac.co.uk Your doctor may ask for feedback from the person with dementia and a caregiver separately to assess risks. By this stage, a few people will be found to be unsafe to drive and the assessment will end here. If they decide that you have to stop driving, you will have to return your driving licence. 296645. Assessment Stopping driving in the interim, persuading, breaking confidentiality After informing the DVLA Who to call for advice? Dementia; Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers. It is carried out by a specialist occupational therapist and an advanced driving instructor. If you live in England or Wales, this questionnaire can also be downloaded from the GOV.UK website . Dr Alison Evans, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, backed the idea of a driving assessment. If you have a full or provisional driving licence, this assessment is for you. may also ask you to complete a driving assessment at a DVLA driving assessment centre. In such cases, the person’s GP, if informed, may disclose relevant medical information to the DVLA. don’t go for long periods without driving – to keep their skills and stay confident, keep to short and familiar routes at quiet times of the day – so they are less likely to get lost or stuck in heavy traffic, drive in daylight – with good road and weather conditions, drive without distractions, like the radio – for better focus. Find a Driver Assessment Near You. Because symptoms of dementia are likely to worsen over time, individuals who pass a driving evaluation should continue to be re-evaluated every six months. Practice dilemma - Driving with dementia. Following a diagnosis, it is often better if the person with dementia decides to stop driving themselves, as this not only reduces any risks to them and others, but also helps them to maintain their sense of control. But driving is also an important tool of independence and can contribute to a person’s sense of self and self-esteem. Close. However, there are some legalities that must be followed, to ensure that the person with dementia is safe when driving. Like memory tests, on their own brain scans cannot diagnose dementia, but are used as part of the wider assessment. Clinical assessment is required. Although family and caregivers can watch for signs of unsafe driving, a proactive strategy would be to get a comprehensive driving evaluation by an occupational therapy driving rehabilitation specialist. 2. However, there are many steps that you must follow upon being diagnosed to determine whether driving is still an option. Dementia and driving You must tell DVLA if you have dementia. driving@hertsability.org.uk; Herts Ability Opening Hours: Mon - Thu 9am - 5pm Fri 9am - 4:30pm ; Dementia. Brain scans are often used for diagnosing dementia once the simpler tests have ruled out other problems. You can change what you receive at any time and we will never sell your details to third parties. This is in case the assessment finds that the person is unsafe to drive. Online groups and discussions boards may also be a useful way of sharing experiences. This version is the Nottingham Assessment for Drivers with Dementia. This is a car with the steering wheel and foot pedals linked to a computer. of driving ability than surrogate assessments. 3. Supportive Conversation × Frank has early stage Alzheimer's and the doctor said it's no longer safe for him to drive. Talk about the safety of the driver and others 4. DVLA/DVA will then send the person a questionnaire and a request to get medical reports from their doctor. Dr Alison Evans, of Alzheimer's Research UK, backed the idea of a driving assessment. • People (n= 543) with a range of neurological conditions, including dementia (n= 53), assessed on a battery of cognitive tests. The person drives with the advanced driving instructor in the passenger seat and the occupational therapist in the back. Begin the conversation as soon as possible and involve the doctor 2. In some cases, a person with dementia will continue to drive despite encouragement not to, or will decide not to inform the DVLA of their diagnosis. The DVLA will always write to the licence holder with their decision. As the disease progresses the ability to drive safely is eventually lost and at that point current regulations demand that driving stops. They won’t have to pay a fee for this and DVLA will send a reminder letter. The assessment is done in a supportive way and is understanding of the bad habits that many drivers pick up, such as not indicating or turning the steering wheel while parked before moving off. This test was designed as a GP screening tool for dementia. A license may be given on an annual basis for review or up to a maximum three years, when dementia progression is slow and people retain sufficient skills. Talking to others about this and making some changes to their usual arrangements can make it much easier to stop driving when the time comes. If at any point, the licence holder decides that they want to stop driving and give up their licence, then they need to write to the DVLA to inform them. www.dementiauk.org/staying-healthy, Dementia UK tips for better communication driver number on their driving licence (if known). Driving “I did my driving assessment and I passed… I felt 10 feet tall. Stopping driving can be seen as a loss of independence and it is important to ensure that the person with dementia feels respected throughout, Try to drive in daylight and during quieter times on the roads, Try to keep driving to familiar routes with short distances, Reduce distractions such as turning off the radio and limiting conversations, Try to have a passenger in the car to help with navigation, Find local services such as peer support groups which are nearby, to help reduce any social isolation caused by stopping driving Invite friends and family over to your house to prevent the need to travel, Set up an account with a local taxi service and order taxis in advance, Find local voluntary agencies which may be able to assist with transport services, Order shopping online to reduce any burden of travelling. There are two components: a cognitive assessment conducted with the patient, and an informant questionnaire (only considered necessary if the results of the cognitive section are equivocal, ie score 5-8 inclusive). The loss of a driving licence can present other opportunities for people with dementia and their partner, for example, finding more local groups and going on walks together as opposed to driving. Driving is something that many people take for granted; it can represent independence and a sense of freedom. … www.dementiauk.org/changing-roles-and-relationships, Dementia UK leaflet on Dealing with stigma It is the best test of a person’s driving ability. The person with dementia must also bring their driving licence and any glasses they need for driving. A person may do this if they have a valid licence but want some extra advice or teaching. The wife is disabled by arthritis and the husband has been slowly developing dementia. Many people with dementia are able to continue driving for some time. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. www.dementiauk.org/helpline, Alzheimer’s Society There is a charge for this service. Overall, it can take about two hours. They never ask for a home visit as he always drives her to the surgery. If the DVLA decides you are safe to continue driving, they will issue you with a new licence that is valid for a limited period. Assessment. A driving assessment will be requested. You may be able to appeal. Government advice on dementia and driving It is better at identifying those who are safe, than unsafe on the road. This is an assessment to look at your ability to keep you, your passengers and other road users safe. www.gov.uk/dementia-and-driving, Dementia UK leaflet on the Emotional impact of the diagnosis Call the National Helpline. Simple driving assessments for people who just need a little help and advice on how to improve their driving by organisations such as RoSPA, the IAM and Local Authorities. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination are not predictive of driving risk or motor vehicle crashes. The assessment is not a driving test, but is an overall assessment on the impact of dementia on the person’s driving. If the DVLA decides that a person is no longer able to drive, their licence must be returned to the DVLA and the person must stop driving. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. A driving assessment will be arranged for drivers diagnosed with dementia (Image: … A request for further information, either via medical details or by an on-road driving assessment • Developed in the context of a specialist driving assessment centre. It is a legal requirement to inform both the DVLA and the person’s insurance company when they receive a diagnosis of dementia. In these cases, the person must get in touch with the centre directly and pay for the assessment. Some carers feel this is an indication that the person’s dementia is progressing. This part happens in a dual-control car, which has a brake on the passenger’s side as well as the driver’s side. If a person wants to keep driving after being diagnosed with dementia, they must take certain steps and let DVLA/DVA decide. If the DVLA decide the person is able to continue driving, they will issue a new licence which is likely to be valid for one year. The wife is disabled by arthritis and the husband has been slowly developing dementia. DVLA/DVA will ask someone to take a driving assessment if they are not sure if the person can still drive safely. Many clinicians use the adage that if the son or daughter of a person with dementia is happy for their own kids to go in the car alone with the grandparents, then everything is probably fine. Introduction. It may be easier to stay safe on the road if they: Even if DVLA/DVA decides the person can keep driving, it may be helpful for them to plan ahead for when they must stop completely. If you have not been diagnosed with dementia but are experiencing difficulties with your memory, your GP or consultant may refer you for a driving assessment at a mobility centre. DVLA/DVA will refer the driver to a centre near their home and will pay for the assessment. Once these have been received, the DVLA will make a decision as to whether the person can continue to drive, choosing from one of three options: 1. [] See also separate Screening for Cognitive Impairment article.. Screening tools cannot specifically identify the subtype of dementia, but they provide evidence that impairment exists and prompt a more formal evaluation [ Galvin, 2012 ]. … A common one used by GPs is the … how dementia will affect your driving or employment, if this applies to you; where you can get financial and legal advice; You should also be given written information about dementia. People can self-refer or be referred by a … In Northern Ireland it is the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). This is the main part of the assessment. A diagnosis of dementia can be a big shock – for the person with the condition, and their family. It has been shown to have an accuracy of 79% in classifying drivers with dementia as safe or unsafe in relation to an on-road driving test. Help us improve GOV.UK. Stroke Drivers Screening Assessment, to be purchased. 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