Warning about Driving

Cynbar

This is why persons with dementia shouldn't drive:

An elderly man from Eastham, MA died this week. He went for a drive to the library, which he did regularly. But this time, he parked the car and didn't go into the library. He left the parking lot (seen on security cameras) and headed down a path towards a pond. After several hours, his family reported him missing and the police launched an all-out search. He was soon found dead, in the pond. No one knows how or why he would go into the water on a cold winter day, but there he was. His family said he had "mild"dementia and they didn't worry about him driving because "he never went far." Imagine the guilt they feel now. We see many posters here who don't stop a relative with dementia from driving because it will upset them. Yes, liability is a real concern, but so is a situation like this.

zauberflote

Oh Cynbar how awful. I hope that I, like my mother, know when it's time to hang up the keys.

LaurenB

I just read the police report.  How tragic.

dayn2nite2

Anoth similarity between autism and dementia is an attraction to water.  If someone with either condition is missing, look for nearby bodies of water, including pools.

LaurenB

good to know about the water.