The driver has explicit directions. Someone is available to meet the person at the beginning and end of the trip. Some taxi companies will set up accounts for family caregivers so a person with dementia has easy access to transportation without worrying about payment. Friends and Relatives Friends, neighbors, relatives or caregivers can offer to drive the person with dementia to appointments or other social events. Other family members will be more likely to assist with the driving if caregivers make specific requests and schedule appointments at times that work for those requested to help.
Some caregivers act as co-pilots to keep a person with dementia driving longer.
The co-pilot gives directions and instructions on how to drive. By chance, this strategy may work for a limited time. But in hazardous situations, there is rarely time for the passenger to foresee the danger and give instructions, and for the driver to respond quickly enough to avoid the accident. Finding opportunities for the caregiver to drive and the person with dementia to co-pilot is a safer strategy. Reduce the Need to Drive Resolving the driving issue involves not only substituting other drivers or modes of transportation, but also addressing the reasons people want to go places.