A heart-to-heart on the way home. An impromptu trip out of town. An errand for a friend. Being able to drive offers much more than a way to get from point A to point B. It can mean connection, independence and freedom.
That is why changes in driving associated with dementia can be so difficult for individuals and families to navigate. Knowing when it may no longer be safe to drive, how to start the conversation and what comes next can be challenging.
But families don’t have to navigate these decisions alone.
The Driving and Dementia Roadmap, developed with expertise from Baycrest, offers free, practical guidance to help people living with dementia, families, care partners and healthcare professionals make informed decisions about driving while supporting safety, independence and quality of life.
When driving becomes a difficult conversation
For Ron Posno, who lives with Alzheimer’s, a frightening incident while driving became a turning point. He ultimately stopped driving, turned in his license and donated his car.
As Ron told the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, “we’ve got to get the message across to people with dementia of any form that you don’t hide in the bushes about it. You should talk to your family and friends about your dementia and how it’s affecting you.”
Those conversations matter. Changes in cognition can affect a person’s ability to drive safely, even while they still hold a valid driver’s license. Families may find themselves asking difficult questions: When should driving be reassessed? How do we raise our concerns? What happens if driving is no longer safe? How can someone maintain their independence without a car? The Driving and Dementia Roadmap was created to help answer those questions.
The first-of-its-kind online resource brings together information, videos, worksheets and other tools to help people navigate decisions about driving in a way that respects the individual and involves those around them. Developed by experts and researchers from Baycrest, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, the Roadmap recognizes that stopping driving is about more than transportation. It can affect a person’s independence, identity, relationships and role within their family and community. If you or someone you care for is facing questions about driving and dementia, explore the free Driving and Dementia Roadmap at DrivingandDementia.ca.
Building a better understanding of driving and dementia
Baycrest researchers are also helping advance our understanding of how changes in cognition may show up behind the wheel.
Researchers from Baycrest, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Calgary are investigating whether an in-vehicle technology called a Driving Monitoring System can identify differences in driving behaviours between healthy older adults, people living with mild cognitive impairment and people living with mild dementia.
The research builds on earlier findings linking subtle changes in driving with changes in thinking and memory associated with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
Today, cognitive tests and specialized on-road evaluations can help determine whether someone is fit to drive, but they do not always provide a complete picture. Studying how people drive in the real world could help researchers identify new ways to understand cognitive changes and, eventually, support better-informed decisions about driving.
Help advance driving and dementia research
Baycrest is looking for people interested in participating in this ongoing research. By taking part, participants can help researchers better understand the relationship between driving and cognitive health and contribute to research that could improve future driving decision-making.
To learn more about participating, contact Christopher Pilieci at [email protected] or 416-785-2500 ext. 6213.
For practical guidance on navigating driving and dementia today, visit DrivingandDementia.ca.
World Alzheimer’s Month: September, 2026
Take Action for Your Brain Health – This World Alzheimer’s Month, explore practical ways to understand, protect and support your brain health through expert advice, free tools and trusted resources from Baycrest.