Dementia and Driving: a Survey of Clinical Practice in Aged Care Assessment Teams

Abstract

Current clinical practice in Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) in NSW and ACT regarding assessment of fitness to drive in clients with a diagnosis of dementia was examined. Of 42 ACATs with a geriatrician on staff, 38 (90.5%) responded to a telephone survey. Results showed that assessment of driver fitness is largely a medically based procedure, with functional on‐road assessment of driver competence occurring in 42.1% of ACATs. Use of the Mini Mental Status Examination in determining the severity of dementia and impact on driving was common (94.7%), although such predictive ability has not been demonstrated. Few ACATs (36.8%) systematically review drivers despite likely disease progression. 73.7% of ACATs reported experience of clients continuing to drive against advice. Approaches to assessment in city and rural ACATs are compared.