Using the Driving and Dementia Roadmap (DDR) to address the emotional impact of driving cessation and dementia

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe emotional impact of driving cessation for people living with dementia (PWD) and their family/friend carers (FCs) can be significant, often contributing to their avoidance of this issue. In addition to the grief and anger associated with PWD’s loss of identity and independence, feelings of fear and distress can accompany PWD’s and FC’s lack of knowledge about driving cessation. In this study, we conducted an implementation evaluation of the Driving and Dementia Roadmap (DDR). The DDR is a web‐based collection of resources and tools to support PWD and FCs through the decision‐making process and transition to non‐driving, including information on managing the oft‐neglected emotional implications of stopping to drive.MethodSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 19 Alzheimer Society (AS) staff after a three to six month period of delivering the DDR to their clients in six AS sites in four Canadian provinces. Eight PWD and 13 FCs who engaged with the DDR were also interviewed. Participants were asked about their experiences of delivering or using the DDR. An inductive thematic analysis of the data was conducted.ResultAccording to study participants, the DDR had both a direct and indirect impact on the emotional aspects of driving cessation for FCs and PWD. FCs described how the emotion content gave them insight about the grief and loss the PWD was experiencing. This understanding helped them to attend to the emotional ramifications of driving cessation and to initiate conversations about driving with compassion, empathy and patience. Indirectly, the DDR also helped PWD and FCs feel that they are not alone, thus “normalizing” driving cessation. They reported being reassured that the actions they had taken and decisions made to stop driving were appropriate. Strategies about remaining mobile also brought relief and hope that PWDs’ quality of life could be maintained once driving ceased.ConclusionBy providing resources and tools that not only directly address the emotional impact of driving cessation, but also attend to other aspects of managing the decision‐making and transition to non‐driving, the DDR has the potential to lessen the associated grief, fear and distress often experienced by PWD and FCs.