Caregiver Checklist for Elderly Parents: What to Do First
3 sections · Expert-curated · Free
Have the Care Conversation First
Where do they want to live as they age?
What kind of care are they comfortable w...
What do they absolutely NOT want?
Who do they want making decisions if the...
Legal Documents
Durable power of attorney (financial)
Healthcare power of attorney
Advance directive / living will
Will or trust
Make copies and share locations with sib...
Understand the Costs
In-home care: $25-35 per hour
Assisted living: $4,000-6,000 per month ...
Nursing home: $8,000-10,000 per month av...
Medicare does NOT cover long-term custod...
Medicaid covers nursing home care but re...
+1 more
Track your progress — assign tasks, check things off, share with family
Get my planHave the Care Conversation First
Do this while everyone is calm, not during a crisis.
Where do they want to live as they age?
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
What kind of care are they comfortable with?
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
What do they absolutely NOT want?
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Who do they want making decisions if they cannot?
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Legal Documents
These must be in place while your parent is mentally competent.
Durable power of attorney (financial)
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Healthcare power of attorney
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Advance directive / living will
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Will or trust
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Make copies and share locations with siblings
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Understand the Costs
Care is expensive. Know what you are facing.
In-home care: $25-35 per hour
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Assisted living: $4,000-6,000 per month average
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Nursing home: $8,000-10,000 per month average
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Medicare does NOT cover long-term custodial care
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Medicaid covers nursing home care but requires asset spend-down
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Long-term care insurance: most affordable if purchased in your 50s
Tap “Get my plan” above for detailed how-to instructions, questions to ask, and insider tips for this step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare cover in-home care?
Medicare covers limited skilled nursing or therapy visits at home, but it does NOT cover long-term custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, meals). That is covered by Medicaid (with income restrictions) or paid out of pocket.
How do I talk to my parent about needing help?
Frame it as wanting to honor their wishes, not as them losing independence. Start with "I want to make sure we respect what you want" rather than "you need help." Have the conversation early, while everyone is calm.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
Get a personalized, interactive checklist that tracks your progress and lets you assign tasks to family members. Free to start.
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