The Family Care Handoff Checklist (Free Printable)
15 things every helper needs to know before they take a shift with Mom or Dad. Three pages, large print, US Letter. Free, no sign-up.
Download the free checklist (PDF)
Most caregiving mistakes don't happen because someone doesn't care. They happen at the handoff, when one person leaves and the next one arrives without the full picture. Use this checklist the first time someone new helps, and any time something changes.
What's inside
- The basics: who to call and in what order, doctors, pharmacy, and how a helper gets in the door.
- Medications: where the one current list lives, allergies, a “who gave it?” log, the missed-dose plan, and refill dates.
- The day itself: appointments and who's driving, daily routine notes, and what “not normal” looks like for your family.
- The family side: the shift schedule with a backup for each day, and where receipts go and how costs are split.
- The 10-minute handoff routine to run at every shift change.
Print it, tick the boxes together, and put it on the fridge.
Keep reading
- How to Share a Parent's Care With Your Siblings (Without the Group-Text Chaos)
- How to Track a Parent's Medications at Home When Several People Help
- How to Split a Parent's Care Costs With Siblings (Without Wrecking the Relationship)
- What to Put in an Emergency Folder for an Aging Parent
- Hospital Discharge Checklist: What to Ask Before Your Parent Comes Home
This checklist is for organizing information only. It isn't medical advice. Always follow prescription labels and your parent's doctors and pharmacist.