Arizonans with dementia shouldn’t be driving

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OPINION — I’ve lived in Sun City West for 17 years. I recently had a strange encounter at the Post Office. The drive-thru drop box for mail has one entrance and one exit. I was in it when suddenly there was a woman in a large sedan facing me.

I thought she must have gone into the exit. While she got out and walked around the car to mail her letter, I tried to pull over to the right as much as I could to let her get around me.

In the meantime, a car pulled up behind me and one pulled up behind her, hanging out into the street!

The lady in the big car pulled around me, rolled down her window and asked, “Is it a holiday or something? There are no cars in the parking lot,” to which I answered, “it’s Sunday. The Post Office isn’t open on Sundays.”

As she rolled up her window, she said, “I have dementia, can you tell?” I told her if she has dementia she shouldn’t be driving. I hope she heard me before her window was up.

Anyone with family members who have dementia should have a pleasant talk with them to point out this letter, if necessary. No one who has dementia should be driving, let alone pointing it out to others!

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