Dementia, Driving, and Travelling in Grand Rapids, Michigan

A diagnosis of dementia does not always mean that someone in Grand Rapids must immediately stop driving. However, dementia is a progressive and irreversible condition that affects memory, judgment, and concentration. Over time, every person with dementia will reach a point where it is no longer safe to drive.

In West Michigan, where winter weather, snow, ice, and early darkness can already make driving more challenging, changes in thinking and reaction time can significantly increase the risk of crashes. Understanding when and how to stop driving, and how to travel safely, is essential for people living with dementia and their families in Grand Rapids.

Dementia and Driving Safety

Dementia can cause:

  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Limited concentration
  • Slower reaction times
  • Problems with judgment and insight
  • Difficulty processing multiple pieces of information at once

These changes can affect:

  • Lane-keeping and steering
  • Speed control
  • Noticing pedestrians, bikes, and other vehicles
  • Understanding traffic signs and signals
  • Responding appropriately to sudden changes on the road

When driving ability is affected, the person with dementia becomes a risk to themselves, their passengers, and other road users.

In Michigan, all drivers have a responsibility to ensure they are medically fit to drive. Certain medical conditions can affect driving safety, including:

  • Dementia and other cognitive disorders
  • Diabetes (especially with severe hypoglycemia)
  • Some heart conditions
  • Certain neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, seizures)

If there are concerns about a person’s ability to drive safely, their healthcare provider in Grand Rapids (such as a primary care physician at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health) can:

  • Document medical findings
  • Provide an opinion on driving safety
  • Recommend a formal driving assessment

The Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) can require medical forms, vision tests, and on-road assessments if driving safety is questioned.

Medical and Driving Assessments in Grand Rapids

In many cases, the driver will first see their doctor, who will:

  • Review medical history and medications
  • Assess memory, attention, and judgment
  • Screen for vision and hearing problems
  • Consider other health issues (e.g., sleep apnea, heart disease)

If needed, the doctor may recommend:

  • A formal driving assessment with an occupational therapy driving specialist
  • On-road testing through a certified driving rehabilitation program

Based on:

  • On-road test results
  • Medical reports
  • Cognitive assessments

the Michigan Secretary of State may:

  • Allow the person to keep their license
  • Add conditions or restrictions
  • Suspend or revoke the license if driving is unsafe

Possible License Restrictions

Sometimes, a person with early-stage dementia may be allowed to drive with restrictions, such as:

  • Only driving during daylight hours
  • Only driving within a limited distance from home (for example, within Grand Rapids or nearby suburbs)
  • No highway or freeway driving (e.g., avoiding US-131 and I-196)
  • No driving in poor weather (snow, ice, heavy rain, or fog)

These conditions are only appropriate if the person is able to remember and follow them. Because dementia worsens over time, regular medical and driving reassessments are usually needed.

Michigan Standards for Medical Fitness to Drive

Drivers in Michigan must meet certain medical standards so their health does not increase the risk of a crash. Healthcare providers in Grand Rapids use national and state guidelines to:

  • Determine if a person with dementia can drive safely
  • Decide how often reassessment is needed
  • Support families in planning for driving retirement

Your doctor, neurologist, or memory clinic team can explain how these guidelines apply in your situation.

Dementia, Independence, and Life in Grand Rapids

For many people in Grand Rapids and the surrounding Kent County communities, driving is closely tied to independence. This is especially true for:

  • Older adults living alone
  • People in suburbs or rural areas outside the Rapid bus system routes
  • Those who need to get to appointments at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or other clinics

Giving up driving can feel like a major loss. Some people in the early stages of dementia understand that their abilities are changing and may be willing to stop driving. Others may:

  • Not recognize the decline
  • Forget that they have been advised not to drive
  • Feel angry, scared, or embarrassed about the idea of stopping

Family members and carers often need support to navigate these conversations.

Signs Dementia Is Affecting Driving

If you are concerned about a person with dementia who is driving in Grand Rapids, consider the following areas.

Vision

  • Do they notice cars, pedestrians, and bikes coming from the sides?
  • Do they respond appropriately to traffic lights, stop signs, and yield signs?
  • Do they struggle with night driving or glare from snow and ice in winter?

Hearing

  • Can they hear car horns, sirens, and trains?
  • Do they respond when they hear emergency vehicles?

Reaction Time

  • Can they turn, brake, or accelerate quickly when needed?
  • Do they hesitate at intersections or when merging on US‑131 or I‑196?

Alertness and Awareness

  • Are they aware of what is happening around them on the road?
  • Do they get easily distracted?

Understanding Left and Right

  • Do they confuse left and right when driving or following directions?

Memory and Confusion

  • Do they become lost or confused on familiar routes (for example, to Meijer, church, or their doctor’s office)?
  • Do they forget where they parked?

Traffic Rules and Signals

  • Do they understand the difference between red, yellow, and green traffic lights?
  • Do they stop fully at stop signs and obey speed limits?

Route Finding

  • Can they read a road map or follow GPS directions?
  • Can they handle detours or construction zones (common in Grand Rapids summers)?

Steering and Lane Control

  • Can they stay in the correct lane?
  • Do they drift across lanes, hit curbs, or have trouble changing lanes or merging?

Problem-Solving

  • Do they become upset or confused when more than one thing happens at once (e.g., heavy traffic, pedestrians, and directions all at the same time)?

Coordination and Walking

  • Have they become clumsy or started walking differently, suggesting coordination issues that may affect driving?

Mood and Behavior

  • Have they become more irritable, aggressive, or anxious while driving?
  • Do they have road rage or overreact to minor issues?

Changes in driving may have been happening slowly over time and not noticed until there is a near-miss or crash.

Talking With a Person With Dementia About Driving

Discussing driving with a person with dementia can be emotionally difficult. In Grand Rapids, many older adults have driven safely for decades, including in harsh Michigan winters, and may feel proud of their driving record. However, past safety does not guarantee future safety with dementia.

Tips for Raising Concerns

  • Choose a calm time
    Talk when everyone is rested and calm, not immediately after a driving incident or argument.

  • Link the conversation to health changes
    For example, after a new diagnosis, medication change, or hospital stay at Spectrum Health or Mercy Health.

  • Use short, frequent conversations
    Several brief talks are often better than one long, intense discussion for someone with memory problems.

  • Focus on strengths and alternatives
    Emphasize that you want them to stay active and connected, and that there are other ways to get around Grand Rapids (family rides, The Rapid, GO!Bus, rideshare services).

  • Acknowledge the loss
    Recognize that giving up driving is hard and can feel like losing independence.

  • Normalize the situation
    Remind them that everyone eventually has to stop driving, whether due to age, vision, or other health issues.

  • Be respectful
    Try to understand how they feel—scared, sad, or frustrated—and respond with empathy.

  • Offer practical support
    Offer to drive them to appointments, church, the grocery store, or social events so they can stay involved in the community.

If Safety Is an Immediate Concern

If the person continues to drive despite clear safety risks:

  • Hide or remove the car keys
  • Disable or remove the car if necessary
  • Talk to their doctor about documenting driving concerns
  • Contact the Michigan Secretary of State to report an unsafe driver (you can ask to remain anonymous)

These steps can be emotionally difficult but may be necessary to protect the person and others on the road.

Travelling With a Person With Dementia in Grand Rapids and Beyond

Many families in Grand Rapids continue to travel with a loved one who has dementia, especially in the early stages of the disease. Trips may include:

  • Visiting family elsewhere in Michigan or nearby states
  • Short getaways to Lake Michigan, Holland, or Traverse City
  • Out-of-state or air travel to see relatives

Travel can be enjoyable, but it also brings challenges, especially as dementia progresses.

When Is Travel More Likely to Be Successful?

Travel is usually easier in the early stages of dementia, when the person can:

  • Follow simple instructions
  • Tolerate changes in routine
  • Manage short periods in unfamiliar places

People with dementia generally do best in familiar, structured environments. However, with thoughtful planning and realistic expectations, travel can still be possible.

Warning Signs That Travel May Not Be Safe

Travel as a passenger in a car, train, or plane may not be appropriate if the person shows:

  • Consistent disorientation or agitation in familiar settings
    (e.g., confused at home or at usual places in Grand Rapids)

  • Frequent desire to “go home” even when away only briefly

  • Delusional, paranoid, aggressive, or disinhibited behavior
    (e.g., accusing others of stealing, yelling at strangers, removing clothing in public)

  • Significant continence problems that are hard to manage

  • Tearful, anxious, or withdrawn behavior in crowded, noisy places
    (e.g., busy airports, malls, or festivals like ArtPrize)

  • Agitated or wandering behavior
    Trying to leave home, hotel rooms, or vehicles unexpectedly

  • Ignoring basic safety near roads
    Stepping into traffic, not watching for cars, or not using crosswalks

  • Refusal to wear a seatbelt or inability to keep it on

If several of these signs are present, long-distance travel or public transport may not be a good idea.

If Travel Is Unavoidable

If travel cannot be avoided (for example, for a family emergency):

  • Speak with the person’s doctor or memory clinic specialist in Grand Rapids
  • Discuss whether temporary medication might help with severe agitation or anxiety
  • Plan to have a familiar, reassuring companion with the person at all times

Testing Travel Capacity: Do a Trial Run

If you are unsure how well the person will handle travel:

  • Take a short test trip that uses the same type of transport you are planning (car, bus, train, or plane)
  • Observe:
    • How they handle crowds, noise, and waiting
    • Whether they become confused, agitated, or try to wander
    • How they manage bathroom breaks and meals

Use this information to decide whether to go ahead with the original travel plan or modify/cancel it.

Practical Tips for Travelling With a Person With Dementia

General Travel Tips

  • Plan to be fully responsible for the person
    Caregiving while travelling is demanding—try to get extra rest before the trip.

  • Manage all important documents and valuables yourself
    Keep control of:

    • Passports and IDs
    • Tickets and boarding passes
    • Money, credit cards, and insurance documents
    • Travel schedule and reservations

  • Use identification
    Encourage the person to wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace that notes dementia and an emergency contact.
    Also place in their wallet or purse:

    • Their name
    • Your name
    • Your cell phone number
    • The address and phone number of your lodging or destination

  • Label clothing and belongings
    Mark clothing with their name and your contact number to help if items are misplaced.

  • Bring a list of important contacts
    Include:

    • Primary care doctor in Grand Rapids
    • Neurologist or memory clinic
    • Close family members
    • Local emergency contacts

  • Pack medications carefully

    • Bring enough medication for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays
    • Carry prescriptions and a current list of all medications and doses
    • Keep medications in your carry-on if flying

  • Maintain routines when possible
    Try to keep regular sleep, meal, and medication times, especially across time zones.

Air Travel Considerations

If flying from Gerald R. Ford International Airport:

  • Notify the airline in advance that you are travelling with a person with dementia
  • Request:
    • Early boarding
    • Seating near the restroom or aisle
    • Assistance with transfers or connections
  • Avoid tight layovers and late-night or very early flights if possible
  • Bring familiar items (a favorite sweater, photos, or music) to help reduce anxiety

Creating a Safe Environment Away From Home

In hotels, vacation rentals, or relatives’ homes:

  • Lock doors and windows if wandering is a concern
  • Leave a bathroom light on at night for orientation
  • Remove or secure trip hazards (rugs, cords, clutter)
  • Keep car keys out of sight if the person is no longer allowed to drive

Travelling by Car With a Person With Dementia

Car travel is common in and around Grand Rapids, whether for short errands or longer drives across Michigan. Consider the following:

Safety and Comfort

  • Seat comfort
    Make sure the person is comfortable, especially on long drives. Bring cushions or blankets if needed.

  • Seatbelt use

    • Check whether they can fasten and unfasten the seatbelt
    • Ensure they keep it on during the whole trip
    • If they frequently unbuckle, you may need extra supervision or to reconsider travel

  • Getting in and out of the car

    • Park away from heavy traffic when possible
    • Assist them when stepping onto icy or uneven surfaces, which are common in Michigan winters

State of Mind

  • Do not drive alone with a person who is very agitated, aggressive, or trying to open doors while the car is moving—this can endanger both of you and others on the road.
  • Plan frequent breaks on longer trips for bathroom use, stretching, and snacks.
  • Avoid driving in the worst weather (snowstorms, freezing rain, or heavy lake-effect snow), especially if the person becomes more confused in low visibility or darkness.

Local Support and Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are caring for someone with dementia in Grand Rapids and need help with driving or travel decisions, you can contact:

  • Your GP / Primary Care Doctor
    At Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, or other local clinics.

  • Local Memory Clinics / Neurology Practices
    For comprehensive cognitive assessments and driving recommendations.

  • Kent County Health Department
    For local public health information and community resources.
    Website: accesskent.com

  • Grand Rapids Public Health and Community Services
    Check the City of Grand Rapids website for senior services, transportation options, and caregiver support programs.

  • Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter
    24/7 Helpline: 800‑272‑3900
    Offers education, support groups, and care consultation.

  • Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
    Provides caregiver support, transportation information, and aging services.
    Website: aaawm.org

  • Local Senior Transportation Options

    • The Rapid (public bus system)
    • GO!Bus (paratransit service for seniors and people with disabilities)
    • Faith-based or community volunteer driver programs

These resources can help you plan for “driving retirement,” arrange safe transportation, and get emotional support.

Key Points

  • Dementia causes progressive changes in memory, judgment, and concentration that eventually make driving unsafe.
  • In Michigan, drivers must be medically fit to drive; healthcare providers in Grand Rapids play a key role in assessing driving safety.
  • Regular medical and driving assessments are often needed as dementia progresses.
  • Talking about driving is emotionally challenging—use calm, respectful, and repeated conversations, and focus on safety and independence through other means.
  • If necessary, it may be appropriate to hide keys, disable the car, or involve the Michigan Secretary of State to protect the person and others.
  • Travel with a person with dementia can still be possible in the earlier stages with careful planning, trial runs, and close supervision.
  • Local resources in Grand Rapids, including health systems, the Kent County Health Department, and aging services, can support families dealing with dementia, driving, and travel decisions.