Primary backup concern Caregiver illness, injury, or burnout Missed shift or helper no-show Weather, power outage, or transportation disruption Hospital, ER, or urgent appointment Family helper may be unavailable
Current care setting Older adult lives alone Home with family or informal helpers Home with paid caregiver or agency Senior housing, assisted living, or facility
Backup helper status No backup helper named yet One backup person named Several helpers can rotate Agency, facility, or staff process exists
Urgent coverage window Same day or overnight coverage One to three days A week or more Not sure yet
Most important care task to protect Medicine reminders or pharmacy coordination Meals, fluids, and basic routine Walking, transfers, bathroom, or fall prevention Appointments, rides, and follow-up calls Supervision, memory support, or safety checks
Written care instructions Not written yet Written but outdated Basic notes exist Current and easy to find
Contact list status Not ready Some numbers are written down Current list is easy to find
Paid or local backup options Not explored yet Home care agency or respite option known Local aging services or respite contact known Facility or housing process known
Decision authority or permission issue Not reviewed Older adult has shared preferences or permissions Decision helper or POA agent is known Unclear authority or family conflict
Plan sharing status Not shared yet Only primary caregiver knows it Backup helper has reviewed it Family, agency, or care team reviewed it
Use broad planning answers only.
Do not enter names, addresses, birth dates, diagnoses, Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords, medication details, or private legal documents. Keep the real backup list and care notes in a secure place.
This planner is educational and organizational only. It is not medical, legal, insurance, employment, benefits, emergency-response, or care-management advice. For immediate danger, unsafe supervision gaps, missing persons, severe symptoms, or urgent medical needs, contact emergency services or qualified care professionals.
Official references:
NIA caregiving ,
Eldercare Locator ,
NIA disaster preparedness ,
Ready.gov older adults .
