How do I explain to Mum we have removed her car?

[Donnadoobie]

We had to remove Mum's car when it became clear that as she couldn't even operate a microwave, we definitely wouldn't want her driving a car!!

We disconnected the battery and then my husband came to 'take the car to the garage' when she found it wasn't working. We then told her that the car was too old to fix.

Unfortunately for my husband, this coincided with the GP telling her she couldn't drive after the DVLA were contacted by a third party (Me). 6 months later my husband is still blamed for taking her car and that is why she cannot drive anymore. She told me the other day that he took it to the Doctors and he drove it 'like a bat out of hell' and that is why she was told she can't drive.

The thing is, it won't really matter what you tell her, she will take the information and change it to a story that makes sense to her. The weird thing is that after 5 months in a CH she has forgotten all about the house she used to live in but not that she doesn't have her car anymore and that my husband took it!!!

[jaymor]

I am just amazed at the different experiences we are seeing here regarding driving. Here is ours.
7 years ago when we were given the diagnosis of alzheimers his consultant went through everything we needed to think about and things to do which of coure was advising the DVLA straight away. We did this, though hubby was not 'impressed' and his licence was revoked and replaced with one that was for 12 months. Each year before renewal he was tested by an OT who was involved with his CPN and her report was sent to the DVLA. He had his licence renewed every year for 4 years. I dreaded the time coming when they would revoke it permanently as his car was vital to him for his business and of course, his 'me and my car' feelings most men have. How was I going to deal with it? On the fateful day the OT came and at the end of the test she said sorry she would have to say the time had come to say she would have to recomend that he should no drive and her report would state that. She said he could appeal if he felt this was wrong. He did continually harp on about it but he actually surrendered his licence before they revoked it so he felt he had decided himself, he had not been stopped. I was really relieved that the OT had told him and it was not me being blamed for the loss of his freedom.
Jay x