The Caregiver’s Cheat Sheet to:
Making a Care Binder
(aka the “nobody has to guess” binder)
The Caregiver’s Cheat Sheet to:
Here’s the deal: If something happened tomorrow, would anyone know where the important stuff is?
This binder is one place for the big stuff: medical info, legal docs, financial basics, daily life details, and the things no one should have to guess during a crisis.
Make one for the person you’re caring for. Then make one for yourself, too.
Section 1: The “Who Makes the Call?” Stuff
When things get real, who’s in charge?
Durable Power of Attorney (financial): Lets someone legally manage your loved one’s bills, finances, accounts, or important financial decisions if they can’t.
Healthcare Power of Attorney: Names the person who can make medical decisions for your loved one if they can’t make them on their own.
Living Will / Advance Directive: Documents your loved one’s wishes for medical care, life support, and end-of-life (EOL) decisions ahead of time.
Guardianship / conservatorship paperwork (if applicable)
DNR / DNI paperwork (if applicable)
Will
Trust documents
Funeral / cremation wishes
Attorney contact info
Pro-Tip:
If you only have copies of these docs in the binder, make a note of where the legal originals are.
Section 2: The Medical Snapshot
If someone ends up in the ER, this can save your sanity.
Full legal name + date of birth
Diagnoses list
Copies of photo ID
Surgery history
Copies of insurance cards
Medication list (dose + schedule)
Medicare / Medicaid info
Allergies
Primary care doctor contact info
Pharmacy info
Specialists’ contact info
Emergency contacts
Pro-Tip:
It can help to include what “normal” looks like for your loved one. What’s their baseline memory, mobility, speech, and personality?
Section 3: The Money Map
Because “I think it’s at Chase?” is not a plan.
Bank accounts
Monthly bills list
Investment / retirement accounts
Tax records (last 2–3 years)
Social Security / pension info
Tax preparer / financial advisor contact
Long-term care insurance
Debt / loan info
Life insurance policies
Employer benefits contact (if applicable)
Mortgage or rent info
Where passwords are stored (not the passwords themselves)
Section 4: The Daily Life Stuff
The things people don’t think about…until they really need them.
Wi-Fi name + password
Dietary restrictions
Alarm code
Preferred hospital
Garage / gate code
Mobility equipment instructions
Spare key location
Home maintenance contacts
Pet care instructions
Important subscriptions or deliveries
Section 5: The Backup Plan
If the primary caregiver gets sick, injured, or burned out.
Who steps in first?
Childcare plans
Who handles finances?
Dependent adult care instructions
Backup emergency contacts
Respite care options
Who makes medical decisions?
Care schedule / routine
Section 6: End-of-Life Wishes
Don’t make everyone guess (or fight over) things.
Burial or cremation preference
Prepaid arrangements
Service or memorial preferences
Notes for obituary
Religious or cultural traditions
Music or readings
Who should be notified
Anything they absolutely do (or do not) want
Section 7: The Human Stuff
Letters to loved ones
Social media wishes
Family recipes
“What I want you to know”
Important stories
Personal values or family traditions
Drop-Everything Basics
This can feel like a lot. If you do nothing else, start with these.
Durable Power of Attorney (financial)
List of diagnoses & doctors
Living Will / Advance Directive
Insurance info
Healthcare Proxy / Medical Power of Attorney
Current medication list
A $200 estate planning kit
A monogrammed leather legacy vault
Some branded organizational nonsense
You Do Not Need to Make This Fancy
You can absolutely use:
A three-ring binder from the dollar store
A simple accordion folder
A shared Google Drive folder
A basic document box
If you want to upgrade:
Fireproof / waterproof document bag
Home safe
Safe deposit box (for originals)
Password manager
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