Comments on: Car Battery Disconnect Switch for Drivers with Dementia http://www.gearability.com/2007/12/08/car-battery-disconnect-switch-for-drivers-with-dementia/ Life with limitations and the gear that makes things work Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:26:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Marty http://www.gearability.com/2007/12/08/car-battery-disconnect-switch-for-drivers-with-dementia/#comment-3228 Marty Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:27:57 +0000 http://www.gearability.com/2007/12/08/car-battery-disconnect-switch-for-drivers-with-dementia/#comment-3228 Thanks for your comment, Dark-Star. It's likely that for most people whose driving must be limited due to cognitive problems ("When Alzheimer’s or other dementias are involved"), this device would do the trick. Those types of cognitive problems would likely preclude opening the hood, bracing it, finding the device, and figuring out how to turn the knob. Intelligence isn't really the issue in those cases. In other cases, if one responsible party (say an adult) must keep a driver (child) with disabilities off the road, simply enlisting cooperation might be enough; or, if not, locking up the keys or selling the car (if it's an extra) should do the job. This particular solution is really most appropriate for a situation where dementia is involved. As ever, specific situations require different solutions. Thanks for your comment, Dark-Star. It’s likely that for most people whose driving must be limited due to cognitive problems (”When Alzheimer’s or other dementias are involved”), this device would do the trick.

Those types of cognitive problems would likely preclude opening the hood, bracing it, finding the device, and figuring out how to turn the knob. Intelligence isn’t really the issue in those cases.

In other cases, if one responsible party (say an adult) must keep a driver (child) with disabilities off the road, simply enlisting cooperation might be enough; or, if not, locking up the keys or selling the car (if it’s an extra) should do the job.

This particular solution is really most appropriate for a situation where dementia is involved. As ever, specific situations require different solutions.

]]> By: Dark-Star http://www.gearability.com/2007/12/08/car-battery-disconnect-switch-for-drivers-with-dementia/#comment-3222 Dark-Star Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:51:03 +0000 http://www.gearability.com/2007/12/08/car-battery-disconnect-switch-for-drivers-with-dementia/#comment-3222 Brilliant concept...however if the intended recipient of this little control device has even a tiny amount of car know-how, the device is not only easily circumvented (how much intelligence do they need to screw down a knob??), but the jig will be up and you will have a bitter relative on your hands. A lock & keyed knob would *keep* them stopped, but also just as easily discovered. The idea works, but a MUCH more hard-to-spot device is in order in my mind. Brilliant concept…however if the intended recipient of this little control device has even a tiny amount of car know-how, the device is not only easily circumvented (how much intelligence do they need to screw down a knob??), but the jig will be up and you will have a bitter relative on your hands. A lock & keyed knob would *keep* them stopped, but also just as easily discovered.

The idea works, but a MUCH more hard-to-spot device is in order in my mind.

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