Driving and dementia: what nurses need to know

Driving is considered an instrumental activity of daily living and, for many older adults, is also associated with the ability to maintain independence. The diagnosis of dementia, distressing on its own, paired with the threat to driving independence, makes this a difficult issue for patients, families, and clinicians. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of the current research regarding driving safety and dementia, guidelines that can be used to assess driving risk, and counseling tips for patients and families regarding driving safety.