INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS AND FAMILIES

It’s not just about driving. It’s about love.

Did you know that most adult children would rather talk to their parents about funeral plans than about driving?! It’s a conversation that can bring some families to their knees. But it doesn’t have to be that way. No one wants to be the ‘bad guy’ and take the keys away too early. Important decisions like these should not just be based on a family member’s opinion. Your concerns are valid but imagine what it would be like if you were in their shoes. Despite how it may seem, your parent or spouse, is listening to your concerns and direction. In most families, your loved one is trusting you to guide them through the driving assessment process. At the end of the day, everyone involved is coming from place of love. A place where more memories can be made and shared together as a family, knowing that your loved one is still safe to drive.

Driving skills can change. Medical conditions and medications can affect the cognitive abilities needed for safe driving. A general decline in physical abilities, two or more falls in a year and observable changes in how your loved one is caring for themselves, points to the need for a cognitive driving assessment.

We are here to support drivers and their families through the process of figuring out if you, the driver or your mom or dad are still safe to drive. And if it’s no longer safe to drive, we are committed to supporting you or your loved one to continue living a full and independent life. We will connect you or your loved one with local transportation options. Hanging up the keys does not mean life is ending, thought it might feel like that for some. We are a resource for you and have tips to share that will help make the move from the driver to passenger seat as drama-free as possible, while keeping your relationship with your mom, intact.

DriveABLE is scientifically-based, harnessing decades of award-winning university research with cutting-edge technology. Assessments are fair, objective and unbiased giving accurate input about how the cognitive skills needed for safe driving may have been compromised.  

There are two portions to the assessment - an in-office tablet based assessment and an on-road evaluation. Each assessment typically takes less than an hour to complete with fast, detailed results providing the information you need and giving you peace of mind.

It is our goal to protect competent safe drivers, accurately identify cognitively unsafe drivers, and to help improve safety on our roads.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

DRIVING SKILLS CAN CHANGE

What are some of the signs?    

  • Close calls 

  • Driving too slow or too fast

  • Dents and scrapes on the car, fences, mailbox, garage doors, curbs 

  • Drifting across lane markers or into other lanes 

  • Unaware of other vehicles or errors

  • Ignoring traffic signs and signals

  • Getting lost or confused in familiar places 

  • Having difficulty finding the parked vehicle

  • Feeling uncomfortable, nervous, angry, or fearful while driving

  • Confusing the brake and gas pedals or late-braking

  • Being easily distracted or difficulty concentrating while driving 

  • Difficulty judging gaps in traffic

  • Being honked at by other drivers 

  • Friends or relatives not wanting to ride as a passenger

Other non-driving signs such as a decline in ability to do everyday tasks, memory loss, disorientation, loss of strength or balance may indicate an assessment is necessary.  If you see any of these signs in yourself, a loved one, contact us today to schedule an assessment. You do not need a referral from your loved one’s physician to schedule an assessment. We do suggest that you discuss your concerns with your loved one’s physician and advise of the upcoming driving assessment.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN IMPACT DRIVER SAFETY

Even for people in the best of health, driving can be a challenge. When people experience age-related symptoms or an illness or medical condition that can impact safety on the road – for themselves and others - it’s even more dangerous. 

“Handing over the keys” is a daunting prospect for anyone of any age, but especially for those who have been capable drivers for many years, yet now find themselves in a situation where a medical condition may be negatively affecting driving abilities. Medications can also affect the ability to drive safely, as can natural, age-related conditions. Often, there may be several medical conditions and medications with complex, unknown interactions affecting function, or there may be a combination of other factors. 

Not all drivers with a medical condition will experience a  decline in ability to an unsafe level, but even vague symptoms may indicate the need for a solid baseline to be established for future assessments.   

Medical Conditions which can impair driving temporarily or permanently include: 

  • Dementia

  • Metabolic diseases

  • Psychiatric diseases

  • Medications

  • Neurological diseases

  • Alzheimer’s

  • Concussion

  • Medications

  • Metabolic diseases

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Neurological disease

  • Parkinson’s Disease

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Cerebrovascular disease

  • Head trauma

  • Respiratory diseases

  • Renal disease

  • Cognitive impairment

  • Psychiatric illness

  • Renal disease

  • Respiratory disease

  • Sleep apnea

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Tumors

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR DRIVEABLE COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT

Cognition is the ability to think, respond, remember, learn, react and have insight. You doctor may have referred you because they want more details about your brain’s ability to observe and process information.  Or your daughter may be really concerned about changes she is seeing in you and needs a baseline. The DriveABLE assessment measure the cognitive abilities we need to be able to drive safely.

Once an assessment is scheduled, we will mail you a Welcome Packet so paperwork can be completed in advance. Please bring this completed paperwork and payment with you on the day of your assessment.  There are two portions to the assessment and depending upon your results, you may be showing us your driving abilities out on the road.

On the Day of the Assessment:

  • Please do not drive yourself to the assessment; have someone drive you or use alternate transportation.  

  • Bring your driver’s license. If you do not have a valid driver’s license, or it has been suspended or revoked, please let us know at the time of scheduling.

  • If you need glasses for reading or driving, or if you wear hearing aids (make sure you have fresh batteries), please bring them with you.

  • Continue to take any medication as prescribed, or as you normally would prior to driving.

  • Keep to your regular meals and medication routine.

At the office, the first part of your assessment is called the DriveABLE Cognitive Assessment Tool, or DCAT Mobile.

The DCAT is administered on a tablet, using touch screen technology pictured below. You will progress through four tasks. In all, the first portion typically takes less than an hour to complete.  You will be provided with opportunity to practice and will not be alone during the assessment.

To complete each task, you will be required to:

  • Watch and listen to the instructions on the screen

  • Use your finger to touch the screen, and your hands to interact as you progress through the task areas

During your assessment, a Certified Assessor will be at your side to set up the assessment, answer your questions, and guide you through the process.

After the Assessment:

  • The second portion of your driving assessment is the DriveABLE On-Road Evaluation, known as DORE. This evaluation is a specialized functional road course where you will have opportunity to demonstrate your driving ability. You will be driving our evaluator vehicle that has dual controls (brake and gas). Again, you will not be alone during this evaluation.

  • Please allow up to thirty minutes break between the DCAT and DORE for to mentally relax. Our office is comfortable with a restroom. Bring a snack if needed.

  • If you prefer to complete the On- Road Evaluation on a different day, please let us know at the time of scheduling. This will need to be completed within 10 days from completing the DCAT. We recommend that you do not drive until you have spoken to your doctor about the results of your assessments. 

  • After both the DCAT and DORE assessment have been completed, please make an appointment to see your doctor.

  • If you have given consent, your results will be sent to your physician, usually within two working days after your assessment.  A copy of your results will also be sent to you and nominated family member. Please let us know how many copies you need.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR DRIVEABLE ON ROAD EVALUATION (DORE)

DORE is a specialized functional On-Road (behind-the-wheel) driving evaluation designed for experienced drivers to evaluate driving skills that are normal for your age and in real time. Once again, you will not be alone.  A DriveABLE Certified Driving Evaluator will be with you in a dual-control (brake and gas) evaluator vehicle. You will be guided through the assessment. The DORE takes less than an hour to complete. 

After the On-Road Evaluation:

  • We strongly recommend that you do not drive until you have spoken to either our office or your doctor about the results of your assessment. 

  • After the assessment, please make an appointment to see your doctor to talk about your results.

  • If you have given consent, your results will be sent to your doctor, usually within two working days after your assessment. A copy will also be sent to you and your nominated family member.

  • We do not send your results to the DMV or auto insurance carriers. Think of our service as third party, like having a hearing test.