Guides for family caregivers

Practical, plain-language help for families sharing the care of an aging parent or relative. General information only, not medical or legal advice.

Want something to print? See the free checklists and worksheets.

• Caring for aging parents: a checklist you can print and shareA printable caring for aging parents checklist in three stages, first week, first month and ongoing, with an owner column and a rule for when to ask for help.
• Questions to ask your aging parents, with a printable checklistA gentle checklist of questions to ask an aging parent about their wishes, health, money and paperwork, and how to start the conversation before a crisis.
• A family caregiver app: what it does, who needs one, and what ours does not doWhat a family caregiver app does, a rule for whether your family needs one, how Kinship Guard compares with two free alternatives checked today, and its limits.
• Signs an aging parent needs more help, and what to do about each oneSigns an aging parent needs more help, sorted by urgency: a one-visit checklist, a watch-or-act rule, and who to call for an assessment in AU, US and UK.
• How to share caregiving for an aging parent with your siblingsA practical way to divide caregiving for an aging parent fairly between siblings: split the work by task, keep everyone informed, and avoid resentment.
• A caregiver task list you can copy: daily, weekly and monthlyA ready-to-use caregiver checklist for caring for an aging parent, organised by daily, weekly, monthly and as-needed tasks, plus how to share it with family.
• How to keep track of an aging parent's medications as a familyPractical ways for families to keep track of an elderly parent's medications: one up-to-date list, a clear schedule, dose confirmation and who to ask.
• What to write in a care journal (and why a caregiver log helps)What to record in a caregiver log or care journal, how short entries beat long ones, and how a shared journal makes handovers between family members easy.
• How to prepare for a doctor's appointment with an aging parentA checklist for family caregivers going to a doctor's appointment with an aging parent: what to bring, questions to ask, and how to share what you learn.
• A care documents checklist for family caregiversA checklist of documents family caregivers commonly need for an aging parent, from ID and insurance to legal papers, and how to store them so you can find them.
• How to make an emergency information sheet for an aging parentWhat to put on an emergency information sheet for an elderly parent, where to keep it and how to share it so paramedics, hospital staff and family can use it.
• What is a care circle, and how does a family set one up?A care circle is the group of family and friends who share the care of one person. Learn who belongs, what roles to give people and how to keep it working.
• Long-distance caregiving: how to help an aging parent from far awayPractical ways to help an aging parent when you live far away: take on the right tasks, stay informed, coordinate time zones and support the sibling nearby.
• Group chat, spreadsheet or care app: how should a family share care?Compare group chats, shared spreadsheets and dedicated care apps for coordinating an aging parent's care, with the strengths and weaknesses of each.