I live and care for my grandfather. He is 83, still drives and still works full time. He has displayed increasingly odd behavior, but for right now I am focusing on his driving abilities. He has had 4 accidents in the last 12 months.
None of the accidents where serious but he told me he cannot turn his neck to look so he just doesn't. I have been in the car with him and feared for my life.
My question is how do I go about taking his license away? I don't think he's slipping enough to have him deemed incompetent, but he's headed down that road. I don't want an accident to be the determining factor. Is there a way to have him take a mandatory test to determine his driving capabilities?
I live in Louisiana if it makes a difference state to state.
Most states have a system whereby most anyone can report a dangerous elderly driver to the state DMV and have them tested and their license revoked. Good luck with that in Louisiana. Many states don't enforce it. My experience is in WV and the politics there have rendered the statute void.
Do you have anyone to enlist in this issue. Other family, friends etc? I'm sorry to say but it might take some rough and tumble to deal with this. I'm dreading that day with my Dad but it's coming soon. I'll have to physically take the keys, disable the car and hope I have found all the guns in the house.
You can't screw around with this. If he can still reason tell him how bad he'd feel if he killed someone. If he has no idea that he is a danger to himself and others, do what has to be done.
Still it's like waiting for it to happen. I hope no one else is hurt. This man won't stay home. He goes all day long, looking for company and meals. The only thing that keeps him in is the dark, since he can't see at night. I have talked to him about moving to AL, where he could be around people without having to drive. He thinks he drives fine and wants to stay in his house. (Of course, I wonder why if he wants to stay in his house why he spends the day trying to not be there.)
I don't think his family has addressed the issue at all. They all live in other cities. I'm sure they've noticed the dents all over his car, though. Maybe they have addressed it with him, but he doesn't talk about it to others.
Yes, you can alert the DMV (public safety) about him re-testing. Chances are that he will know that you did it, but what is a family to do when it comes time to stop driving? I feel for the elder, since it is a major loss of freedom. But there are milestones in life that have to be faced. This is one we will all ultimately face if we live long enough. (It will be no problem for me, since I don't like to drive, anyway. I wish I could afford a chauffeur.)
If his current doctors will not evaluate him, then you need to find another doctor and preferably one who specializes in gerontology. If he's deemed incompetent, then someone need to file for guardianship in order to take full control of his money before he gives it all away to his girlfriends. It may even be possible to get temporary guradianship once you have a diagnosis of incompetency for the sake of safe guarding his money which is also your mom's money. Please make some calls in the morning, get some appointments made and get the ball rolling.
If your mom is of sound mind, she must might be able to open a new account in her name, move all of the money there which would cut off him having money to give away.
Or contact the insurance company for the people involved in the accidents.
This is a touchy topic form me as you can see. It is a flat miracle that more people are not killed on a daily basis from elderly who should not be driving.
Do you know the cop that he caused the last accident with? Could you enlist his help by him writing a letter that could be taken to the DMV? Somehow, you will have to find a way to get him off the road. I wish you luck and perseverence!
Before you do anything drastic, why don't you have him see his doctor about his neck stiffness and see if physical therapy could be prescribed. That might help. Also check into different rear view mirrors. I think I've seen fisheye mirrors or something like that.
Good luck!
For someone who still works at 83...well, you gotta give him credit for not giving up!
An option for his work commute might be one of the medical transports, although that would be very expensive and it doesn't really sound as if he needs it. There are also the dial-a-ride door to door small bus services of major transit authorities. If his area has any ride-sharing, that's another option, which would also give him the benefit of companionship and conversation during the car pools that would take him to and from work.
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