I’VE GOT DEMENTIA ... BUT I’M STILL DRIVING

THIS is a very tricky subject. I love having a car, but because of my condition there’s a chance I may not be able to drive for much longer.

After my diagnosis last year, we were told I had to inform the DVLA that I had earlystage dementia.

My husband Chris and I filled in a form online, then the DVLA wrote to my GP and consultant. The only question I was asked was whether my vision was impaired in any way, which it isn’t.

Six weeks later, my new licence arrived. This has to be renewed every year and I presume they’ll repeat the process. We’ve also informed the insurance company.

So should I be driving now? Well, at 67 I am not a doddering old biddy.

Chris says I shouldn’t be behind the wheel, but let’s just say we’ve agreed to disagree.

When I wrote in my regular Mail on Sunday column The A Word that I’d got lost while driving to the dentist – a trip I’d done countless times before – I received quite a few emails from readers who agreed with my long-suffering husband.

I certainly CAN drive, so it’s right that I’m legally allowed to, and my situation is self-limiting.

These days I only feel confident tootling along to the nearby Sainsbury’s or TK Maxx. I never liked going on the motorway anyway, so I won’t be starting now.

My parking may be a little strange but to be honest, I think it always was! But I’ll keep driving until I or my doctors decide it’s time to stop.