04/29/2026
Have you had to take the keys away? How did you approach it? What advice do you have for others who will have to do this soon?
There comes a time when it may no longer be safe for our loved ones to operate a vehicle. But it can be a big battle. Driving is deeply ingrained in many of us as part of our freedom and independence. When we want to get away and be alone, we can always hop in our car and go for a drive. Giving it up is like giving up a part of ourselves.
And, it can seem like the final admission that perhaps aging and illness are reaching that tipping point. It can be hard to face.
For all these reasons and more, it is understandably difficult to get an adult to hand over the keys and to stop driving. On the other hand, it simply gets too dangerous, not only for our loved ones but for other people on the road. No matter how hard or difficult, it has to be done.