Abstract
Purpose: Driving with dementia is a public safety issue; however, giving up driving would mean losing the client's independence. This study is aimed at describing the process of driving cessation of clients with early dementia and related-factors. Methods: Thirteen clients with early-stage dementia and their caregivers were recruited for the study. The clients were asked to stop driving after being diagnosed as having dementia at a university hospital. From October 2003 to December 2005, the clients were interviewed and family members were consulted about driving cessation. Data was obtained from medical records, verbatim transcripts of interviews, and consulting records to gather the information on disease progression, clients' thoughts about driving, how the family coped, and living environments. Factors associated with difficulties in driving cessation were qualitatively analyzed. Results: Eight clients experienced traffic accidents and stopped driving, and the remaining five kept driving during the study period. For some clients, it took five years to give up their driver's licenses. Lacking alternative transportation and conflicting views on driving cessation within the family were the major factors associated with difficulty in driving cessation, especially for young clients. The family members experienced various stresses in convincing the client to stop driving. The coping ability of the families influenced the process of adaptation to life without driving. Conclusions: It is necessary to identify drivers with early-stage dementia to prevent accidents. Family members need to be consulted on safe driving and when to stop driving. Alternative transportation needs to be discussed with the family.
