Mom's Geriatrician called this afternoon right as I was coming in the door. I had left her a message yesterday that the evil deed was done and mom was minus her keys--permanently. Dr. V. was thrilled and told me some families never get this done and all it takes is a crash where someone is killed, for the lawsuits to start flying. With a diagnosis of dementia in mom's medical records, if she hit or killed someone, and their family sued her, they could have taken everything but the clothes on mom's back. Any astute attorney, would request mom's medical records and neurological testing and she'd be just t-o-a-s-t. Burned toast. What we've also found out is, as family, if we knew she was driving and had not forced her to stop, knowing she had dementia, we would be liable as well. YIKES! That was a real eye opener.
So, if you are in a similar position, here is a heads up. Yank the keys. It's a win-win v. a lose-lose.
I started to take a picture of mom's car, with the club on it, just because it looked soooo hilarious. All of her grand kids would love to see her car clubbed, too, at 82. Sort of a bad family joke. Most of all I am grateful that it's done, she's safe, and so is everyone else out there. Whew....we dodged a bullet.
And thank you to all the wise owls who have helped us get this done and get her housekeeper more often so driving just is no longer an issue. We are blessed.
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