What's inside
Twelve printable pages, organized into six sections you can use on their own or keep together in one binder.
1. Care team & emergency contacts
One page for every name and number that matters including primary doctor, specialists, pharmacy, home care agency, insurance, health care proxy, a neighbor with a key, and poison control. Includes a key medical information table for allergies, diagnoses, insurance IDs, and where the advance directive is kept. Post a copy on the fridge so every caregiver sees the same list.
2. Daily caregiver checklist
A shift-by-shift task list covering personal hygiene and daily-living support, meals and hydration, medications, home safety, and mobility and social connection. Cross out what doesn't apply, add your own tasks, and use the handoff notes so the next caregiver knows how the day went.
3. Medication & vitals logs
A weekly medication grid to initial each dose (or note a refusal), plus a vitals and symptom log for blood pressure, glucose, temperature, and pulse. Bring these pages to doctor visits as a reference.
4. Home safety & fall-risk audit
A room-by-room walkthrough that includes entrances, stairs and hallways, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living areas, and emergency response sections with OK and FIX columns and additional space for notes.
5. Provider inspection checklist
Take this to agency interviews and facility tours. It covers licensing and background checks, staffing and turnover, care planning and communication, and additionally for residential settings, what to look for on site. Print one per provider you compare, then note your green flags and red flags.
6. Legal & healthcare decisions
A tracker for the documents to have in place before a crisis, including a durable power of attorney, health care proxy, living will, and more. Each has a status column to check off once it's done and a location column for where the original is kept. Also includes a prep sheet for a meeting with an elder law attorney such as what to bring and which questions to ask.
How to use it
- Fill in the care team page first and post a copy where every caregiver can see it.
- Customize the daily checklist. Print a fresh copy each day, or laminate one and use a dry-erase marker.
- Keep the logs current so every family member and aide sees the same information.
- Audit the home and the providers. Walk each room with the fall-risk audit, and bring the inspection checklist to every tour or interview.
- Prepare your legal documents before you need them, and bring the attorney prep sheet to the appointment.
Who it's for
- Adult children coordinating care for a parent, especially across siblings or from out of town.
- Spouses and partners who have become the primary caregiver.
- Families bringing in a home care agency for the first time and wanting everyone on the same page.
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. We ask for your email so we can tell you when we publish new guides. You can opt out of those updates, and we never sell or share your address with providers.
Can I print more than one copy?
Print as many copies as you need. Many pages, like the daily checklist and the provider inspection sheet, are meant to be reprinted.
Is this medical or legal advice?
No. The toolkit is for organization and planning only. Talk with your loved one's doctors about care decisions and with an elder law attorney about legal documents, since rules vary by state. In an emergency, call 911.
What should I do next?
Once you know what kind of help is needed, search local providers and use the inspection checklist when you compare them.