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For the past year we have tried to go through the proper channels to get my Dad’s license revoked after many unsafe episodes. It was suspended for a while, because his “vision was questionable,” and he did, indeed, fail the vision tests. During that time he completely ignored the suspension and the fact that he wasn’t covered by insurance “because they don’t know what they are talking about and so I don’t have to follow the law.” He became manic and physical the several times family members took the keys away, including slapping my brother and pinning my mother to the wall and frisking her and taking the keys by force. These behaviors are completely unprecedented and out of his pre-dementia nature. The local Sheriff’s department are aware of the situation, and have been supportive of my mom, but can’t do much since they never caught him driving with the suspended license.And now the state of Kentucky just reinstated his license. We will resubmit the paperwork to have his license reviewed, and we are probably closer to a confirmed diagnosis (doctors who were convinced by his performance, even though strangers on Facebook can tell that something isn’t right). In the meantime, how can we protect my mom, both physically and liability wise if he is in an accident and injures someone? If we take the car, can we get in trouble for stealing it if he calls the police on us?

If Dad is getting aggressive, this is not good. He is a threat to Mom. He needs medication to help with this and a formal diagnoses by a Neurologist. His doctor can send info to DMV saying this man is no longer able to drive because of ALZ. He is a mandated reporter. This country is so behind when it comes to revoking licenses for those who suffer from a Dementia. I think a law should be in place that Drs have to report to DMV when its found Dementia is in play. My grandson's Dr did not hesitate to report him to DMV because of epileptic seizures.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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abbasjoy Oct 25, 2024
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I agree. It’s hard because my dad doesn’t respect doctors, doesn’t want take his medicine, and my mom is non-confrontational and rarely takes a stand. The Sheriff’s Dpt has said that they cannot do anything unless he is in an accident or they catch him doing something unsafe, and now his license was reinstated and a lot of people are less safe, and we aren’t sure what to do with the fact that what we feel are our moral obligations don’t seem to have legal backing.
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Anyone being physically abused by this man needs to call 911 every single time, and let the police take him in for a psych evaluation.
And by all means remove his car from the property, or at least remove the battery. And if he calls the police you can tell them that your mom gave you permission to remove it because of your dads dementia.
You and your mom would feel HORRIBLE if your dad with his demented mind would either kill or severely injure someone while behind the wheel, as someone driving with dementia is NO different than driving while drunk or high on drugs. So whatever you do keep the keys and car away from your dad, and report his behavior to his doctor so they can prescribe the appropriate medication.
Stand your ground on this issue as innocent drivers are counting on you doing so.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Where is he going that he wants to drive so badly?
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lealonnie1 Oct 25, 2024
Whats the difference where he's going??????
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Its not hard at all. You disable dad's car immediately. Which is better than having him kill innocent people on the road, isn't it? And who cares about the state revoking his license when he will ignore that directive anyway, as you said? Remove the spark plugs, then the battery, slash the tires, etc.

What's harder is living with the guilt you'll feel knowing you allowed an elder with dementia to continue driving because you were afraid to upset him. Or that you can be sued for knowingly allowing him to drive with obvious cognitive impairment and allowing the death of others.

911 needs to be called the next time dad gets violent. He'll be taken to the hospital for a psych evaluation and diagnosed, medicated, and then you can have him placed directly from there.

Do the right thing, for everyone's sake.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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I'm so sorry, many many of us here have been though the same fight to get aging parents off the roads, in this you are far from alone

Yes , if you took the car, it is illegal, if it is registered in your dad's name, probably not illegal if it is registered in moms name, and if she approves.

You can disable the car, but I wouldn't leave dad alone with mom when this happens, seeing your dad's unusual anger issues, you should be careful of that now.

That's awesome that the police are aware. You could always wait till Dad leaves then call the police on him? Maybe it's a thought.
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cover9339 Oct 25, 2024
Lol, this calls to mind a story of an older gentleman living in a well to do suburb of Cleveland. He should not have been driving (though it was stated he was a really good driver, he just drove fast). The police knew about him and actually stopped him to call his son that dad had been stopped for speeding again. It really didn't phase him, he said he'd "run over the police" but in jest.

Eventually, though unhappy about it, he did give up his license. He did sound like a fun cool person to be around.
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Call 911 every time he gets angry, violent etc. send him to the hospital for a UTI check and then from there use “unsafe discharge” to have him placed in a nursing home.

That is my advice anyway
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Reply to Southernwaver
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Since mom won’t be safe if his car ‘disappears’, disable it. WHATEVER you have to do - just do it. Too many people can be hurt.

Then, call the state ASAP. Tell them what’s going on. They MAY send out cease-driving paperwork. He will then have to visit doctors and earn his privilege to drive again.

If your state will not mail the papers to Dad when you call, ask specifics of what information they need from you to request his license be taken away. Complete it and return to the state ASAP. I had to report my mom to our state DOT when the ER neurologist didn’t believe all that I told him about mom’s changing behaviors. I demanded a psych do a bedside exam and found she had mild cognitive decline. No one wanted to act on this finding and report her to the state. So I had to, as an only child and the only one who knew about her changing demeanor.

Please act.

Be sure everyone around mom knows to call 911 if/when dad gets physical again.

It is VERY hard, but know you are NOT alone. Many of us have gone through it. I’m still on the journey…
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Reply to Katsmihur
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One good reason it is best to live in and/or move to an area where a car is an option and not necessary; where all you could need is a short walk and/or transit ride away.

Thankfully, many communities are starting to become this way.
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He has physically attacked your brother and mother, and no one should tolerate this behavior. Have him arrested. Next time, his attack could be much worse. You’re okay with his slapping brother? What if next time he uses fists? You say he treated your mother with force? What if next time he knocks her to the floor?

Dementia or no, violence isn’t okay. Concentrate on that issue. You say the police can’t do much because they haven’t caught him driving with a suspended license. They can too do “much” by hauling him off to jail for attacking people.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Without an official diagnosis and without a PoA, there is not much you can do besides calling 911 every single time he makes verbal or physical threats to anyone. This may get him Baker Acted into the psych ward of a hospital where he may eventually accept medication and from there, possibly cooperate with an exam.

No diagnosis and no PoA means whatever you do to his vehicle may cause your family to be "the bad guys" legally. Stop doing things openly, like "taking the keys" or arguing with him about it, which creates unnecessary confrontation and drama. Better he has no idea why his car now doesn't work. I've read stories on this forum of men like your Dad going out and just buying another new vehicle when his family took his old one.

And yes, technically you CAN get in trouble for stealing his car.

The only sure way to protect your Mom is for her to live elsewhere. This may hasten your Dad's pathway to diagnosis and treatment, if he falls apart when living on his own.

There is no simple or easy answer here, but I would keep calling 911 to get him into a psych ward for forced treatment. I would video his aggressive behaviors as evidence.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Hi. So sorry you and your Mom are in this situation. If your Dad has gotten physical with family members in anger, I am also concerned for your Mom's safety since your Dad won't go to the doctor or take medication. I agree with others that the car should be disabled in some way. And that the police needs to be called if he assaults anyone again. The police can have the court order an inpatient eval at a hospital. Please have a heart to heart with your Mom about anything else he may have recently done to her and how afraid of him she is now. As his reasoning skills go away, his anger and propensity to assault others may get worse. Yes, this is out of character for him, but that should not be reason to allow it. His mind is "broken" and he needs care. Maybe your Mom can "vacation" with you for a while when car is disabled, so she has a safe place. Wish you well with this.
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OP hasn’t replied since October 25. Just a heads up
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