Care Playbook
A Parent Should Not Be Driving
Use this playbook to document driving concerns, reduce immediate risk, prepare a respectful conversation, involve the right professionals, and build transportation alternatives.
Use as a working checklist. Complete what is useful now and return when the situation changes.
Driving safety note
If there is immediate danger on the road, a recent serious crash, getting lost, severe confusion, unsafe driving after a medical event, or risk to the public, prioritize safety and contact the appropriate emergency, medical, or licensing resource.
This playbook does not determine driving fitness, legal capacity, or license status.
Driving safety source anchors
This playbook frames driving as a safety and mobility planning issue. Age alone is not the issue; specific events, health changes, medications, vision, cognition, and transportation alternatives matter.
NHTSA notes older-driver decisions should account for changes such as vision, physical fitness, and reflexes, not age alone.
MedlinePlus explains that physical and mental changes can make safe driving harder for older adults.
NIA has dedicated driving safety guidance for Alzheimer's disease and signs that driving may need to stop.
Who this playbook is for
- Families worried about an older adult's driving safety.
- Caregivers documenting specific driving events before a conversation.
- Families trying to protect mobility while reducing road risk.
Common triggers
Quick situation intake
These answers personalize the callouts and summary. They do not block access to the playbook.
What to do now
What to do in the next 24 hours
What to do this week
What to document
These fields feed the shareable Family Care Plan Summary.
Conversation builder
Create a grounded, non-accusatory script using facts, a specific request, and a next step.
ConversationScriptGenerator output
I want to talk about driving safety and transportation alternatives. Here are the facts we need to work from: - The concern is based on specific events, not age alone. - Driving supports independence and routine. - Transportation alternatives need to be built. I am asking for a driving safety review and one replacement transportation option. If that cannot happen, we need to pause or limit driving when immediate safety is at risk. Can we agree on a professional or family review before the next risky drive?
Tone selected: firm. Adjust the words before using this with family, providers, or facilities.
Driving event log
Specific events are more useful than general concern.
Escalation path selector
Choose the concern type, then document the closest responsible contact and the next route if unresolved.
- First contact
- Emergency or local urgent resource
- Second contact
- Clinician
- Urgent contact
- Emergency services
Documentation needed
- Specific driving event
- Location
- Who observed it
- Injury or damage
Who to call
Doctor or clinician
Call when
Call when there are medical, medication, vision, cognitive, dizziness, mobility, or recent hospitalization concerns.
What to say
We have noticed specific driving concerns: ____. Could a medical, medication, vision, cognitive, or mobility issue be affecting driving safety?
Local transportation resource
Call when
Call when the family needs alternatives before asking the parent to reduce or stop driving.
Licensing agency or DMV-equivalent
Call when
Call when there is serious road safety concern, dementia-related risk, repeated incidents, or professional reporting is needed. Requirements vary by state.
Geriatric care manager
Call when
Call when the family needs a neutral person to help assess transportation, safety, and resistance.
Escalation triggers
- If there is immediate road danger, prioritize public safety over the perfect conversation.
- If dementia, medication, vision, or medical changes are involved, ask a clinician what should be evaluated.
- If driving continues after serious incidents, identify the appropriate licensing or professional resource in the state.
Set a suggested review date
7 days, or sooner after any driving incident
Suggested review date: June 3, 2026
Generate care summary
Driving Safety Conversation Plan
Send the intake, documentation, checked actions, recommended tools, questions, and review date to the Family Care Plan Summary.
Kefiw Driving Safety Conversation Plan Date created: May 27, 2026 Suggested review date: June 3, 2026 Situation intake What driving concerns have happened?: Not entered Is there immediate road safety risk?: Not entered Are dementia, memory, or judgment concerns involved?: Not entered Was there a recent medical event or medication change?: Not entered How does the parent respond to driving concerns?: Not entered Are transportation alternatives available?: Not entered Has a doctor or professional been involved?: Not entered Documentation Specific driving concerns or events: Not entered Immediate road safety risk?: Not entered Medical, medication, vision, or memory concerns: Not entered Transportation alternatives: Not entered Conversation plan: Not entered No-drive or evaluation threshold: Not entered Completed actions None checked yet Recommended next steps - Document driving events. - Build transportation alternatives. - Prepare conversation script. - Ask clinician if needed. - Generate Driving Safety Conversation Plan. Questions to ask - What specific driving events have happened? - Is there immediate road safety risk? - Could medical, medication, vision, or memory changes be involved? - What transportation alternatives can replace the riskiest trips? - What event triggers professional evaluation or no driving? Recommended Kefiw tools - Care Needs Checklist: Ground the driving conversation in current care needs. - Transportation and Appointment Planning Guide: Build alternatives before reducing driving. - Talk to Parent About Needing More Help: Use dignity-preserving language. - Dementia Safety Playbook: Use if memory or judgment concerns are involved. - Mind Reset: Reset before a sensitive conversation. Family script We are not trying to take away your independence. We are trying to make sure you can still get where you need to go without risking your safety or someone else's.
You have a starting plan.
You documented what happened, identified the next care steps, and selected tools to continue planning.
Related guides
Review and scope
Recommended reviewer type: Clinician, Geriatric care manager, Driving safety or occupational therapy specialist. Last reviewed: April 30, 2026. Next scheduled review: annual update cycle or sooner when guidance changes.
This playbook helps organize family care conversations and documentation. It does not replace medical, legal, financial, insurance, employment, or emergency advice. If someone is in immediate danger, may be unsafe on the road, may be experiencing abuse or neglect, or may need urgent medical help, contact the appropriate emergency or professional resource.