Challenge of caregiving for Alzheimer's, dementia patients

(WTNH) - One of the big issues families have to deal with involving loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease or other types of dementia is when and how to take away the car keys because driving has become too dangerous. 

Nick and Cheryl Yanosky were high school sweethearts. They drove down the East Coast for their honeymoon. But now, after 40 years together, and a recent Alzheimer's diagnosis, Cheryl does the driving.

"What's it like having her be the driver all the time?"
"Scary," Nick said, then laughed.

Scary or not, when Nick forgot routes he'd taken so many times before they made the decision together to move Nick to the passenger seat.

"I was a strapping man and now I'm nothing," Nick said.
"You're not nothing," Cheryl told him.

Taking away the keys is like taking away a dementia patient's independence. But caregivers don't have to be the bad guys.

When someone calls the Alzheimer's Association 's helpline (1.800.272.3900) about what to do about their loved one's driving, they are given a list of assessment centers they can go to so a third party can evaluate their driving skills.

People can come to the Easter Seals Mobility Center in Meriden where they go through extensive vision and cognitive tests, and sit in a driving simulator where they watch videos and react.

"Out on the road if they are really missing major environment cues -- signs, lights delayed reactions to other vehicles -- those are usually the big red flags," explained Tricia Passariello, certified driver rehabilitation specialist for Easter Seals of Central Connecticut .

After a real road test everyone sits down to discuss the recommendation whether to drive or not to drive.

"If a family member is present and they're supportive 'we're going to help out', have a schedule, arrange for a volunteer driver." Passariello said.

Cheryl and Nick still travel. She says they now live life with adaptations.

"This is a little piece of life," she said. "I know it's a big piece for Nick but we can still get from point A to point B and have fun."

Says Nick, "She's the best."

Next week, we will profile a 27-year-old caregiver who lives with and takes care of her 63-year-old Mother.