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Driving with MCI diagnosis

Lisa Van
Lisa Van Member Posts: 1 Member
in Caring for a Parent

I am 77 years old and recently diagnosed with MCI. I have few symptoms. My husband went to a support group recently and was told I should not be driving. Because any symptoms I do have are not really difficult from those typical of “old age.”

I hate giving up driving.

Any thoughts?

Comments

  • ARIL
    ARIL Member Posts: 352
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    Member

    Hi there. So sorry about your diagnosis, but it is good that you are being proactive and considering limitations.

    Most people hate to give up driving, and yet there comes a time when that is the safest choice for the driver and for the general public.

    Maybe a candid talk with your doctor is a good first step. And you will want to check with your auto insurance company. Many people on this site have reported that their insurance companies will not pay out if a person with a diagnosis has an accident.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 1,842
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    Member
    edited December 2025

    Welcome. You doctor can order testing to evaluate your driving ability. Dementia is about so much more than bad memory. You might also want to check with your car insurance company. With an mci diagnosis there may be problems with coverage if there is there is an accident. I also want to point out that many (maybe even most) with dementia are not able to recognize their own symptoms or limitations. I’m not suggesting you have this now, just that you would be a very rare case if you ever told your husband you didn’t think you should drive anymore. So even if you do pass a doctor ordered driving evaluation, keep in mind that evaluation is only relevant for so long. Try to trust your husband when he says it’s time to stop driving.

    Anosognosia and Dementia - AgingCare.com.pdf
  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 3,273
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    Member

    Sorry about your diagnosis after my husbands diagnosis the Neuro-Psychologist said he should no longer be driving because he had visuospatial difficulties. It meant that he could’t judge distance or speed. She said he could run into the back of another vehicle or run over someone. He had no idea this was happening to him. I noticed he was driving slowly but didn’t connect that to his diagnosis. She also said with his diagnosis if he were in an accident, even if it wasn’t his fault, that we could be sued and lose everything. The next day, I explained this to him and the next morning he brought me his keys and never drove again. I told him I would be his personal chauffeur from then on. 💜

  • JulietteBee
    JulietteBee Member Posts: 436
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    Member

    I'd suggest you willingly give up your keys & stop driving, BEFORE your license gets revoke or you get charged with a crime. Hubby can become your personal chauffeur.😘

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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