Welcome to Driving with Dementia

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I am a family/friend caring for a person with dementia who is still driving. I am interested in:

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Learning about licensing, reporting and transportation options 

When you are helping the person with dementia renew their driver’s licence, you will discover that most, if not all, provinces and territories require that people with dementia declare that they have dementia when they renew their licence. All medical conditions that can affect driving must be declared. In addition, most, if not all, motor vehicle insurance policies include a clause that requires the person with dementia to tell their insurer that they have a medical condition that can affect their driving. To get around without driving, ask your family/friend carers and doctor to help you come up with an alternative transportation plan (click here). Below are some alternative transportation options based on where you live in Canada, as well as additional information about licensing and reporting.


Public reporting of unsafe driving

If you, or other family or friends, are concerned that the person's dementia may be affecting their ability to drive safely, try talking to them about it. If they are not open to discussing your concerns, consider talking to the person with dementia’s healthcare professionals. In addition, in many provinces and territories, the person with dementia’s family and friends, as well as concerned citizens, can report unsafe driving to the drivers' licensing authority. For more information, please click on the region where you live below.

Please note, in some cases, although the link below provides this information, it also includes other information. You will have to browse through the link.

In other cases, because this information is not available, we have included a link to the closest relevant information on the licensing authority website. This way, you can follow up directly with the authority to find out more.

These links were available as of September 2022.

Requirements for healthcare professionals to report a dementia diagnosis

All provinces and territories require some form of reporting by healthcare professionals of medical conditions that affect driving. Dementia is one such health condition that could affect driving ability. In many cases, healthcare professionals have a duty to make this report. For more information, please click on the region where the person with dementia lives.

Please note, in some cases, although the link below provides this information, it also includes other information. You will have to browse through the link.

In other cases, because this information is not available, we have included a link to the closest relevant information on the licensing authority website. This way, you can follow up directly with the authority to find out more.

These links were available as of September 2022.

What to expect in a comprehensive driving evaluation

To determine if the person with dementia can continue driving and if so, to what extent, the driver’s licensing authority in most provinces and territories may request that the person with dementia take a comprehensive driving evaluation, which is sometimes called a functional assessment. It typically includes two parts: an in-office evaluation and an on-road driving evaluation. For more information, please click on the region where the person with dementia lives.

Please note, in some cases, although the link below provides this information, it also includes other information. You will have to browse through the link.

In other cases, because this information is not available, we have included a link to the closest relevant information on the licensing authority website. This way, you can follow up directly with the authority to find out more.


These links were available as of September 2022.

Appeal process for drivers' licence suspensions

Most provinces and territories have a process for appealing licence suspensions. For more information, please click on the region where you live. 

Please note, in some cases, although the link below provides this information, it also includes other information. You will have to browse through the link.

In other cases, because this information is not available, we have included a link to the closest relevant information on the licensing authority website. This way, you can follow up directly with the authority to find out more.

These links were available as of September 2022.

Alternative transportation options

You can provide support for the person with dementia by helping them come up with an alternative transportation plan (click here). Here are some specific ideas to consider based on where the person with dementia lives in Canada. These links were available as of September 2022.

Alberta

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

British Columbia

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Manitoba

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

New Brunswick

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Northwest Territories

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Nova Scotia

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Nunavut
Although public transportation options are limited, for ideas contact your closest Alzheimer Society, which is the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories. After you review the web page, it will automatically take you back to here. This link was available as of September 2022.

Ontario

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Prince Edward Island

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Quebec

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Saskatchewan

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.

Yukon

Click on each organization's name below. After reviewing, when you close the organization's web page, it will automatically take you back to here. These links were available as of September 2022.