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Check with the DMV in your state. I live in Georgia and after my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers, we knew he shouldn't be driving (also has a severely bent neck and can't look anywhere except down). He still had a registered car and driver's license so we called to have them inactivated. We were told by DMV and by State Patrol that there was nothing they could do to legally prevent an Alzheimer's dx person from driving because it would be taking away their personal rights. I asked if I could get law enforcement to flag his car (we're in a rural area) and find some excuse to take his license so he'd have to retake a driving test (which he would fail) and the answer was no. I asked about getting them a doctor's statement and they said no. I said, "To clarify, I'm telling you plainly that my 85 year old father is a definite hazard on the road, cannot see over the steering wheel, cannot turn his neck at all, and has a psychiatrist's diagnosis of Stage 4 Alzheimers, has run off the road multiple times, and caused an 18-wheeler to almost jacknife to keep from hitting him when he pulled out in front of the trucker and Dad was completely oblivious to the whole thing.. and you can do NOTHING to help me keep him from behind the wheel?" And the State Patrol officer said, "Ma'am, I sympathize completely, but that's exactly right. Now if you could get him to drink a few beers and we happened to catch him, and his alcohol level was high enough, we might could help." So --- We tried talking with Dad, offering to buy his car, playing on his sympathies ("what if you hurt a child...). His only response was that he was an excellent mechanic in his 20's so he could certainly still drive a car.
We tried taking Dad's car keys, but he had them hidden everywhere- in the house, shop, car, clothing, shoes,etc. Finally we took the tires off the car, chocked the wheels with very heavy blocks and removed the battery, cables and all. He still got behind the wheel, but couldn't get on the road. (We thought ... then he drove the lawnmower to church.....)
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Lroye, Even though your dad is losing his mind, he sure hasn't lost his determination has he? If there was just a way of bottling
that perseverance and determination, you'd be rich!
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Oh yeah, he's a real energizer bunny....
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I don't think perseverance or determination will ever leave. I go through the same with my father. I was lucky my dad couldn't pass the eye exam at the DMV so they wouldn't give him a license and gave him an ID Card. I don't know what the laws are in your state but in Louisiana I can be held responsible and liable for any harm he causes to someone else. He will never be held liable because of the Alzheimers/Dementia. My prays are with you. Good Luck.
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