Elizabeth Dugan

Caring.com Expert

About

Elizabeth Dugan is an associate professor of gerontology at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

She studies medical aspects of driving regulations and policy and how doctors and older patients talk about difficult issues such as whether a patient is medically fit to continue to drive. Dr. Dugan is the author of Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and Their Families.

Why I Care "My interest in gerontology was sparked by my grandmother and an inspiring professor.”

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Thursday November 03, 2011

    1. My mother refuses to give up her car keys, what can we to so make her stop driving?

      Answer - Thanks for sharing your situation, I'm sorry -- it sounds very, very challenging. It isn't clear to me what your mother's health problems are that make her unfit to drive or why the doctor told her to stop driving. But let's assume she is no longer medically fit to drive...

  2. Wednesday June 29, 2011

    1. Why would my husband have a driving restriction after having a seizure?

      Answer - Thank you for your question about seizures and driving restrictions. Medical conditions that alter our level of consciousness impact our ability to drive safely. The more abrupt the change in consciousness, the greater the likelihood of a crash. Seizures are as abrupt as you can get...

  3. Wednesday May 18, 2011

    1. How can I get my father-in-law to stop driving even thought he's passed a written test?

      Answer - Thanks for your question. This is such a tough situation -- trying to manage a difficult situation remotely, then add in the family patterns of communication (or not, in this case).

  4. Wednesday April 06, 2011

    1. Will my air bags to more harm than good to my 92 year-old dad with osteoporosis?

      Answer - Thanks for your question about osteoporosis and airbags.

  5. Friday January 28, 2011

    1. With power of attorney, can I keep Dad from renewing his driver's license?

      Answer - Thanks for your question. Dealing with a medically impaired loved one who keeps talking about driving, when he/she is not at all fit to drive, is really tough. To me it sounds like you have handled this quite well. His license expired, he is not legally permitted to drive - so you are perfectly right to keep him from behind the wheel...

  6. Monday December 20, 2010

    1. How can I approach Mom about giving up her car keys?

      Answer - Thanks for your questions. It sounds like you have your hands full.

  7. Tuesday July 27, 2010

    1. How can I spare my husband's pride when asking him not to drive anymore?

      Answer - Thank you for your question and for providing enough detail to get a glimpse of your husband -- beyond a collection of diagnoses, but as a proud, very high-achieving man - that you love after 50+ years of marriage. I can tell you that in general, driving cessation is harder for men compared to women...

  8. Saturday June 26, 2010

    1. How do I take the keys away from an alcoholic parent?

      Answer - This is a tough situation, I'm sorry you have to deal with it. I'm going to assume that you have tried to talk to her to convince her not to drink and drive, and that has not been successful. Drinking and driving is deadly -- especially for older drivers because our bodies get less efficient at processing alcohol so the impact of it is amplified...

    2. Is there a standard post-stroke driver assessment? My dad...

      Answer - Yes. His best bet is to be evaluated by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist -- check the American Occupational Therapy Association website (www.aota.org; then click on the older driver section) to find a specialist nearby. A post-stroke driver assessment is essential to make sure he is fit to resume driving...

  9. Tuesday June 08, 2010

    1. How can we stop mom from driving when Alzheimer's makes using alternatives difficult?

      Answer - My family faced a similar situation -- and I know how hard it is to figure out exactly when to take the keys away from a loved one with dementia. Even experts sometimes disagree on when driving cessation is warranted for someone with Alzheimer's disease. But you are describing some red flags that suggest it is time for your grandmother to stop driving (e...

  10. Monday May 10, 2010

    1. Can a person with vertigo drive?

      Answer - I would really encourage her to talk to her doctor about the vertigo. It may be quite treatable. But if it continues or gets worse she has to worry about falls, causing an at-fault crash, or some other serious injury.

  11. Saturday March 13, 2010

    1. Are doctors required to notify the state if someone is no longer capable of driving safely?

      Answer - The short answer is No. These regulations vary by state. In Ohio health care providers are permitted to notify the licensing authority (Bureau of Motor Vehicles), but they are not required to do so. Caring.com has a great state-by-state guide to state laws that you may find helpful...

  12. Saturday January 16, 2010

    1. Does Dad have to have an accident before someone intervenes and gets him to stop driving?

      Answer - I understand your frustration, I think figuring out if a parent is legally safe to drive or not is one of the hardest things adult children confront. First, check http://www.caring.com/calculators/state-driving-lawscheck to find out what the vision requirements are -- and if, your father is driving illegally...

  13. Saturday September 12, 2009

    1. Can my mom continue to drive if she taking Aricept?

      Answer - Driving is regulated at the state level, so it depends where your mother lives. But, yes, some states do terminate a driver's license once diagnosed with dementia. Among experts there is a lot of controversy about this because diagnostic equipment is so advanced that we can diagnose someone much earlier...

    2. Can I legally remove Dad's car?

      Answer - Boy this is a sticky situation. I recommend talking this over informally with your local law enforcement officials. Unfortunately they have to deal with drunk driving every day and may have some advice on how to keep your step-dad safely off the road.

    3. How do I help, from a distance, my elderly father care for my disabled brother?

      Answer - Observing declines in a loved one and not living close enough to be of much help is a special stress more and more of us are feeling. Hiring a geriatric social worker who is local can be a lifesaver. Hospitals, aging service providers, or the local council on aging may be able to connect you to someone...

  14. Wednesday April 08, 2009

    1. What are the family's liabilities if my parents, who should not be driving, cause an accident?

      Answer - I'd recommend consulting an attorney to be sure. We live in a very litigious society, so I think you are right to be concerned.

    2. My generally healthy (but diabetic) mother was recently told to stop driving. She wants her car back, badly.

      Answer - The vision standards for driving fitness are set at the state level and vary state by state. I'd recommend checking to see what her state's regulations are. Her vision impairment may clearly place her in the "unsafe and not legal to drive" category and that will make the discussion about whether she can drive or not moot...

    3. My generally healthy (but diabetic) mother was recently told to stop driving. She wants her car back, badly.

      Answer - The vision standards for driving fitness are set at the state level and vary state by state. I'd recommend checking to see what her state's regulations are. Her vision impairment may clearly place her in the "unsafe and not legal to drive" category and that will make the discussion about whether she can drive or not moot...

  15. Monday September 29, 2008

    1. How can I get my uncle to stop driving and move into a retirement community?

      Answer - Communication is the best tool at your disposal. Try talking with your uncle, using motivational interviewing techniques (described in my book The Driving Dilemma and in articles on this site) to find out how he views the situation.

  16. Friday August 15, 2008

    1. How can I gently approach the subject of handing over the car keys with my dad?

      Answer - It's time to work closely with your father's health care providers. Driving requires the ability to see, think, and move. Parkinson's symptoms and treatments may impair driving fitness and it sounds like your father has both cognitive and motor skill issues.

  17. Friday August 08, 2008

    1. How do I get my husband to stop driving as the doctors say he must?

      Answer - Find out what the process is for reporting medically impaired drivers to the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state. Ask the physician to submit the required paperwork. This should trigger a licensing action (e.g., order to surrender license, testing). You may be able to submit a report as well. Contact your local police department...

  18. Friday May 23, 2008

    1. Should someone with macular degeneration be driving?

      Answer - Your mother may still be safe to drive since she is in the early stage of macular degeneration. In fact, in some states you only need vision in one eye to keep driving.

  19. Thursday May 22, 2008

    1. How can I persuade my father to stop driving?

      Answer - It depends on what's prompting the doctor recommendations and if this was a firm, evidence-based diagnosis or an off-the-cuff, rushed remark. If there's any doubt, get a multidisciplinary assessment of his driving fitness. The American Occupational Therapy Association has a database listing certified...

  20. Wednesday November 21, 2007

    1. Why is my elderly father having trouble driving at night?

      Answer - Many older drivers self-regulate driving behavior to be safe, so they'll avoid dangerous roads, driving in bad weather, or driving at night. I don't think you should worry about your dad being too cautious. This is probably an instinctive and very healthy decision.Our eyes change with time...