Just a quick enquiry really if anyone knows.
If a family member (or anyone for that matter) is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, is their car driving license immediately suspended?
Is that the end of ones driving on the public roads?
Can it be re-instated or is that IT?

Ouch. Sad news. Hoping this is just an enquiry out of curiosity, but I’m guessing not…

You really need to Google that one – perhaps the DVLA could help?

DVLA medical branch will sort you out with that one. I would hazard a guess that they would need to surrender their licence.

It’s not my family member, but a guy in the street next to mine!
He’s proving something of a problem (there’s an ongoing court case with him already) and I have learnt that he’s got Alz’ but still tries to drive his car. His family live not 15ft away from his home.
The DVLA it is in the morning!
Cheers

As far as I’m aware the driver themselves has to notify the DVLA of any medical condition making it dangerous for them to drive (epilepsy etc). I seem to remember my Mum going through the same sort of thing with my Grandad when he was having minor bumps and scrapes all the time cos of his cataracts. He even got pulled over once by the police for driving too slowly (!) but they couldn’t do anything to actually stop him driving.

Eventually a combination of my Mum/the neighbours persuading him that he wasn’t capable and his insurance premiums going through the roof cos of all his accidents meant he gave up driving, albeit very reluctantly.

If a family member (or anyone for that matter) is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, is their car driving license immediately suspended?

No. For one thing, “Alzheimer’s” covers a big range of symptoms. My father has been diagnosed with it, but so far it is not too noticeable except that he forgets where he is and where he’s going 🙁

Diagnosis in it self is not necessarily the end of driving, it would depend on the degree of impairment. The onus is on the individual to report such a diagnosis to the DVLA, and they can advice on supplementary testing (that said I’ve known people who despite clear recommendation from GP & Consultant that a person should not drive the DVLA have grant licence).

The Main problem is going to be the insurance company as they tend to look for ways have not paining out – they will need to be notified – but read the fine print first

Its (depending on circumstance/ situation) for the person not to drive alone – not at drive in busy times or in heavy traffic – its probably a good idea to have a companion as I’ve know people loose cars completely before now ( totally unable to remember where they had left it – found in the police compound six months later).

Has any medication been prescribed?
Who has made the diagnosis?
What support has been offered?
Feel free to contact me (email in profile) if you want more info advice

@breakneckspeed – your e-mail is not in your profile 🙂 What is your expertise?

DrJ – oops – email now in profile – I’m a Community Psychiatric nursing working with older adults – specialising in cognitive impairment