Driving is a very complex activity that requires a number of cognitive skills that may decline as we age. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), dementia affects a number of critical abilities needed for safe driving. These include perception, visual processing, maintaining attention, responding to multiple stimuli at once, making correct decisions, and acting appropriately in difficult traffic situations. Individuals in the early stage of dementia may be able to drive under normal circumstances, but can have difficulty with changing circumstances, and may become lost.
NHTSA has additional resources, including:
The Alzheimer's Association also has additional resources to help understand this topic, including:
- Dementia vs. Alzheimer's Disease: What Is the Difference? (pdf)
- 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia
- Alzheimer Disease Facts and Figures
- Driving and Dementia
- Alzheimer's Navigator
Florida Alzheimer's Disease Initiative
The Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) was established by legislature in 1985 to support individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia's by providing essential services to adapt to their evolving needs. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs coordinates and implements ADI and more information can be found on their Alzheimer's Disease Initiative website.
Memory Disorder Clinics
The Florida legislature authorizes the operation of 17 Memory Disorder Clinics (MDCs) throughout the state. MDCs offer comprehensive diagnostic and referral services for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The clinics also engage in related research projects, develop training programs and materials for caregivers, and provide educational opportunities to caregivers, respite service providers, and healthcare professionals involved in the care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. To locate your nearest Memory Disorder Clinic, visit the Florida Department of Elder Affair's Alzheimer's Disease Initiative website.
Florida Silver Alert Program
You have probably heard of Amber Alerts, which notify the public of a missing child through cell phones and highway signs. But fewer of us know about Silver Alerts, which are used to notify the public when a person with Alzheimer's or related dementias or cognitive impairments goes missing.
A Silver Alert is activated when an older adult has wandered off either on foot or by car. Like Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts display important details on highway signs such as the make, model, color, and license tag number of the missing person's vehicle. The public is asked to report any sightings to law enforcement.
To qualify for a Silver Alert, the following criterion must be met:
- The missing person is 60 years of age or older, or they are 18-59 and have cognitive impairment and a Silver Alert is the only way to rescue the missing person.
- They have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other irreversible cognitive impairments caused by illness or trauma.
- The person is believed to be traveling by vehicle or on foot and is considered at risk. After the person is found, the Department of Elder Affairs, local Area Agencies on Aging, and Memory Disorder Clinics are available to provide support and assistance to the individual, their families, and caretakers.
When an individual with a cognitive impairment cannot be found after 5-10 minutes of a thorough search the family member, friend, or caregiver should immediately call 9-1-1 to report them missing. Law enforcement will ask you for important details like the vehicle's make, model, color, license plate number, and a recent photo. For more information on this topic, visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Silver Alert Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Time is critical when someone with cognitive impairment goes missing. In just one hour, driving at 35 mph, they can be in another county or even in a different state. Apart from being lost, they might drive unsafely or forget traffic laws, putting themselves and others at risk.
Florida's Silver Alert program is a collaborative effort between local law enforcement, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) designed to find them quickly by sharing information with the public to help improve the chances of a safe recovery. A Silver Alert helps local law enforcement in the rescue of missing persons who are driving a car by broadcasting pertinent information to the public using dynamic message signs on Florida highways.
Interested in learning more? Safe Mobility for Life developed a quick guide on how to report and recover missing older adults with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Visit the Resource Center to view or order a FREE copy.
What is Dementia-Friendly Transportation?
Dementia-friendly transportation goes beyond age-friendliness. It is a transportation service that considers the special needs of passengers with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Safe Mobility for Life, in partnership with the Resources & Education for Aging, Community, and Health (REACH) at Florida State University College of Medicine developed two different tip cards to help transport those serving people with memory loss. The Transportation for People with Memory Loss tip card helps family and caregivers and the Serving People with Dementia offers tips for transit drivers.
Visit the Resource Center to view or order FREE copies of either of these tip cards (English and Spanish) or email connect.reach@med.fsu.edu to learn more on this topic.