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Life Event Checklist

Caregiver Checklist

Caregiving often means coordinating health information, appointments, medications, transportation, finances, documents and emergencies all at once. Use this checklist to see what is organized, what needs review and where help may be needed.

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This checklist provides general educational and organizational guidance. Caregiving authority, medical decisions, financial access and legal responsibilities can vary by situation and jurisdiction.

Care Is Easier When Information Is Organized

Know what you need, where it is and what you can legally handle.

Focus on coordination, authority, access and backup plans.

1
Care Information Keep important contacts, medications and appointments organized.
2
Legal Authority Know what you are actually authorized to manage or decide.
3
Home & Emergency Readiness Reduce avoidable risks and prepare for interruptions.
4
Backup & Respite Do not build a care plan that depends on one person doing everything.
Start With the Care System

Caregiving becomes harder when information lives in too many places.

A caregiver may be helping with appointments, transportation, medications, meals, insurance calls, bills or household tasks. The goal is not to put private details into one giant document. It is to know what exists, where important records are kept and who is responsible for what.

Use this checklist to create clarity around the care arrangement without collecting sensitive information that does not belong here.

Helping someone does not automatically give you legal authority.

A caregiver may be deeply involved in day-to-day care without having authority to make health, legal or financial decisions. Review the appropriate documents before assuming you can act on another person's behalf.

Your Caregiving Review

See what is ready and what still needs attention.

Mark each item Ready, Review, Action Needed or Not Applicable.

0 Ready
0 Review
0 Action Needed
0 Not Applicable
Checklist Progress 0 of 0 reviewed
Ready
Review
Action Needed
Not Applicable
Caregiver Checklist

Review the systems that support day-to-day care.

Every caregiving situation is different. Use Not Applicable where needed and focus on the items that fit the person's current level of support.

Care Team & Contacts

Know who is involved and how to reach them.

Create a care-team contact list Include key health providers, family contacts, caregivers and other important support people.
Identify who coordinates care Know who is keeping track of appointments, follow-up tasks and important changes.
Review how updates are shared Decide how family members and caregivers will communicate important changes without creating confusion.

Medical Information

Keep essential health information organized and current.

Maintain a current provider list Know which doctors, specialists, pharmacies and care services are currently involved.
Maintain a current medication list Keep a separate, appropriate record of current medications, doses and prescribing providers.
Track important health changes Have a simple way to note meaningful changes that should be discussed with the care team.
Review allergy and sensitivity information Make sure critical allergy information is available to appropriate caregivers and providers.

Appointments & Follow-Up

Reduce missed appointments and lost instructions.

Use a reliable appointment calendar Track appointments, transportation needs and follow-up dates in one consistent place.
Prepare questions before appointments Write down concerns in advance so important topics are not forgotten during the visit.
Track follow-up tasks Keep a short list of tests, referrals, prescriptions or next steps that still need attention.

Know What You Are Authorized to Handle

Caregiving involvement and legal authority are not the same thing.

Review health care decision authority Know who is legally authorized to make health decisions if the person cannot make them independently.
Review financial power of attorney Know who can legally handle financial matters and what authority the document actually grants.
Review provider authorization requirements Health systems and insurers may require specific authorization before discussing protected information.
Keep authority documents accessible Know where current legal documents are kept and which institutions have copies when needed.

Insurance & Benefits

Know which coverage and programs are in place.

Review current health coverage Know the insurer, plan type and how important providers and services are handled.
Review prescription coverage Understand which pharmacy and medication rules apply to the current plan.
Review long-term care coverage where applicable Check whether existing coverage or benefits may help with qualifying care needs.
Review available benefits and assistance Consider programs or benefits that may help with care, transportation, leave or support.

Money & Bills

Keep financial help organized and properly authorized.

Review recurring bills Know which essential bills must be paid regularly and how they are currently handled.
Review account access authority Do not assume a caregiver can access or manage financial accounts without proper authorization.
Watch for unusual financial activity Be alert to unexpected charges, new requests for money or other changes that may deserve attention.
Keep financial records organized Store important statements, bills and financial documents in a consistent system.

Documents & Record Locations

Know what exists and where it can be found.

Know where identity documents are kept Keep track of where important identity and administrative records are stored without copying sensitive numbers into this page.
Know where insurance records are kept Keep current coverage documents and claims contact information accessible.
Know where legal documents are kept Identify the location of powers of attorney, health directives, wills and other relevant records.
Create a document-location map Record where important information is stored rather than putting confidential details into one checklist.

Home Safety

Look for practical risks that can make daily care harder.

Review fall hazards Look at loose rugs, poor lighting, clutter, stairs and other areas that may increase risk.
Review bathroom safety Consider whether the current setup supports safe bathing, toileting and movement.
Review medication storage Keep medications organized and stored appropriately for the household situation.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms Confirm that required household safety equipment is present and working.

Transportation

Plan how appointments, errands and daily needs will be handled.

Review transportation to appointments Know who can drive, which services are available and how transportation will be scheduled.
Review driving needs and safety If the person still drives, consider whether current driving routines remain appropriate and safe.
Create a backup transportation plan Have an alternative for days when the usual driver or vehicle is unavailable.

Daily Care & Routines

Clarify the recurring tasks that keep the household functioning.

Review meal and nutrition support Know who handles shopping, meal preparation and other routine food needs.
Review personal-care support Identify where help is needed with dressing, bathing, mobility or other daily activities.
Review household tasks Clarify who handles cleaning, laundry, groceries, maintenance and other recurring responsibilities.

Emergency Planning

Know what happens when the normal care routine breaks down.

Create an emergency contact list Include family, care providers and other people who may need to be reached quickly.
Review emergency medical information Make sure essential health information can be accessed appropriately during an emergency.
Review evacuation and shelter plans Consider mobility, medications, equipment and transportation needs during an emergency.
Review emergency supplies Include care-specific supplies that may be needed during power loss, severe weather or other disruptions.

Backup Care

A care plan should not depend on one person being available every day.

Identify a backup caregiver Know who could step in if the primary caregiver becomes sick, travels or needs time away.
Share essential routines with backup help Make sure a backup person knows the important contacts, routines and document locations they would need.
Review respite options Know what family, community or professional support may be available when the regular caregiver needs a break.

The Caregiver's Own Responsibilities

Keep caregiving from making the rest of life invisible.

Review work responsibilities Consider scheduling, leave, flexibility and how caregiving affects employment obligations.
Review your own household responsibilities Make sure bills, appointments, family needs and other obligations are not being lost in the care routine.
Schedule realistic breaks Build backup and respite into the plan rather than waiting until the caregiving system breaks down.

Digital Access & Security

Keep necessary access secure and appropriately authorized.

Review online portal access Know which health, insurance or service portals are used and what authorized access is permitted.
Review password management Do not keep passwords inside this checklist. Use an appropriate secure system for credentials.
Review emergency digital access Make sure essential digital information can be located by the right authorized person if needed.

Ongoing Care Review

Care needs can change quickly.

Review the plan after a major health change Update contacts, routines, support and documents when the person's needs materially change.
Review authority documents after changes Make sure legal and health decision documents remain appropriate and current.
Review insurance and benefits periodically Coverage, eligibility and care needs can change over time.
Review backup care arrangements Make sure backup caregivers and emergency contacts remain available and informed.
A Stronger Caregiving System

Four things make caregiving easier to manage.

Know the Authority

Understand who can make medical, legal and financial decisions before a crisis forces the question.

Keep Records Findable

Organize important information by location and purpose instead of scattering it across notes, drawers and devices.

Build Backup

One caregiver should not be the only person who understands the routine or knows where essential information is kept.

Review After Changes

A hospitalization, move, new diagnosis, medication change or loss of support can change what the care plan needs.

Your Priorities

See what needs action and what deserves another review.

Action Needed

These are the caregiving items you marked as needing action.

  • No items marked Action Needed yet.

Review

These are the items you want to check more closely.

  • No items marked Review yet.
Keep Personal Details Private

Use the checklist to track readiness—not private health or account information.

Do not enter Social Security numbers, insurance member numbers, medical diagnoses, account numbers, passwords, prescription details or other sensitive personal information into this page.

Nothing is saved.

Your checklist selections remain in your browser only and disappear after the page is refreshed or closed.

View All Life Events

Your selections are not stored after the page is closed or refreshed.

Related Have These Now Resources

Connect caregiving to the rest of the person's life plan.

Family & Dependents

Review responsibilities, records and planning for people who depend on your support.

Review Family Planning →

Health & Medical Readiness

Review health information, providers, records and the systems that support medical readiness.

Review Health Readiness →

Legal & Estate Planning

Review powers of attorney, health care documents and other important legal planning areas.

Review Legal Planning →

Where Things Are Worksheet

Create a simple map showing where important household, insurance and legal records are kept.

Map Important Records →
Care Works Better With a System

You should not have to remember every important detail by yourself.

A clear care team, organized records, appropriate legal authority, backup help and an emergency plan can make caregiving more manageable for everyone involved.

Review Family & Dependents →

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