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You can't legally take the truck if you aren't his active PoA and your Father does not have a medical diagnosis of cognitive impairment. I agree you'll need to disable it, but he may decide to "fix" it or have it towed to a shop, etc. There are stories on this forum about men who've gone out and purchased new vehicles when their concerned children took their vehicles, so don't underestimate your Father.

I recently transitioned my 95-yr old Mom out of driving by having her primary care doctor write an order for a virtual driving assessment through their OT (occupational therapy) department. It worked really slick and I wasn't the one to break the news that she failed those tests, which had to go into her medical records and then her primary doc (who is a mandated reporter) was required to report that info to our Dept of Public Safety...who sent my Mom a letter telling her her license is now cancelled.

Call his primary care doc to see if you have this option for your Father. You can tell him a "therapeutic fib" to get him to go to such appointment ("The DMV requires this test in order to retain your driving privileges). The OT gives a MOCA test (for judgment/executive brain function) and reflex testing. My Mom turned out to be high risk.

If your Father doesn't have a PoA but then gets a medical diagnosis of cognitive impairment, this may cause a future problem in managing his affairs and making decisions in his best interests. A person with no PoA who is cognitively impaired may very likely end up as a ward of a court-appointed legal guardian.

A primary doc is the best person to do the basic, first-level cognitive testing. But is should also be accompanied by other tests of other health issues, many of which can produce dementia-like symptoms (such as a UTI, which is treatable).
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CaringinVA Oct 2, 2024
Such a good way to handle this, Geaton. I like that you did not have to break the news to your mother.
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Dah....if your father has dementia he is not fine ever, and should NOT be driving ever. Period, end of sentence.
Please either take away his keys or the truck so he can't kill or seriously injure some innocent person on the roadways.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Jclvnfam Oct 2, 2024
I agree! We took the keys away and hid them from our loved one diagnosed with dementia. Best decision ever for peace of mind and protecting others.
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You can disable the truck so it won’t move but he won’t feel as if you are trying to hold him back by talking his car or key’s , and it’s just a car issue. For an elderly there is nothing worse than being told what he/she can do, like a child. I should know I’m one of them.
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Jimsdaughter2: Disable the vehicle if your father suffers from dementia.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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YES.

I presume he has dementia and that has been determined by a medical provider?
When you say he is 'fine most days,' you do not tell us how he is / how he functions the other / rest of the other days, which is important for us to know.

While you'll want to go to DMV, be sure to have legal authority to make decisions in this regard. Equally, if he is determined ... change the key on his key chain (if he has one ... often we don't need keys anymore) ... take a part out of the truck ...

Everything depends on how he functions day-to-day.
If you feel he is in danger, by all means - take appropriate action for his safety / welfare ... and expect back-lash. He won't be happy ... he may say he can drive fine. This is very normal - this resistance. It is a huge loss to him to not be able to drive (does he drive at all?) - so calmly, clearly, set boundaries with immense compassion when discussing with him.

Often common sense approach won't matter to him. i.e., 'we want to keep you safe.' I wouldn't bother with that - although, again, it depends on his cognitive functioning/abilities. And the relationship / communication you have.

Thank you for asking. (I just came back fr a LOVELY trip with a friend who is close to 90. While MOST of his driving was as good as mine / could be, he potentially got us killed / injured twice. He is aware and concerned - and overall, extremely active and engaged in his life. Still. I'm not ready to go ... nor that way. ... my compassion went out the window at that point.)

Gena / Touch Matters
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Does he have dementia? Where's he leaving from and going to? Does he live alone? Does he live with you?

Not knowing the specifics, it's difficult to answer your question. If you don't want him leaving, yes, you'll have to make sure he can't. If that means taking the truck, that's what you have to do. If he really wants to leave, he'll find another way, truck or no truck.

I seriously doubt that he's "fine most days." Whoever is supposed to take care of him needs help because eyes need to be on him 24/7. In order to keep him safe, that may mean care in a facility. Otherwise you risk what happens to many other elders when they start wandering, which is disappearing down the interstate, getting off and becoming confused, then peeing in a condominium guard shack. This has happened with the fathers of two separate friends. It could have been worse, like ending up in a canal with vultures swooping around. That has also happened to people I know about.

Take this seriously. It's more than taking the truck.
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I had my 93 old mother's doctor tell her she shouldn't be driving. So my husband went ahead and disabled her car so I didn't have to take her keys. But I remind her what the doctor said. The car is still in her garage, and as far as I know, she hasn't attempted to driving it which has been over a year.
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Reply to JKCastlerock
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I wouldn’t take the truck but I would definitely disable it.
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Reply to Peasuep
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Take the car battery out of the truck.
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Reply to brandee
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Definitely!!
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