Caregiver Checklist

We have compiled the following checklist to help you to prepare for the challenge of caring for a terminally ill loved one.

• Caregiving takes a large amount of time and energy.  Utilize your support groups (family, friends, church and, of course, the hospice staff and volunteers) as much as you can to give yourself a break from caregiving and to allow you to take care of yourself.  All this support is wonderful, but unplanned visitors can be stressful for both you and the patient. Let people know how they can help you most effectively and the best times to come.

• Discuss the patient’s wishes for medical treatments, extraordinary life saving measures, funeral arrangements, financial arrangements, etc. as early as possible and follow up on those desires.  These can be hard discussions to initiate, but the longer you wait the harder it will be for both you and the patient.

• Designate a place to gather and keep vital information where it is accessible and let others know about it.  Make sure all caregivers know the location of any Advance Directives and the terms of these important documents.

• Make a list of people to contact when death occurs—Include day and evening phone numbers for family members, church, fraternal organizations, employer, etc. 

• Plan the obituary notice with all appropriate biographical information and where you would like memorials sent.

• Funeral Arrangements—Have all agreements for prepaid funeral arrangements handy. If funeral arrangements have not been made, your clergy or the hospice social worker or chaplain would be glad to help you with this.  Record your loved one’s specific wishes to guide you.

• Insurance information—record the policy numbers, contact information and the location of the policy documents for all insurance policies (life, health, disability, long term care, Medigap, homeowner's or renters, automobile and social security).  Check on the details of the life insurance policy. Some policies will provide quick payments for funeral and related expenses.

• Financial information– record the account number, institution, type of account and location of statements and documents for all bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, securities, annuities and other financial instruments.  Record contact information for any pension or profit sharing plans.  Record the contact information and location of documents for any outstanding mortgages or loans.  Record the contact information and location of statements for any credit cards.  Record the institution, contents and the location of the key for any safe deposit boxes.  Record the location of recent tax returns. Record the location of all deeds and titles.

• Have a will prepared or review and update the existing will as needed.  Choose an executor you can trust to carry out the patient's wishes.  Think of potential conflicts between the executor and the beneficiaries and make arrangements to minimize them. Identify the sources from which funeral expenses, debts, taxes, probate fees, etc. will be paid. Identify the sources from which the ongoing living expenses for the surviving spouse and dependent children will be paid.

• Don’t try to handle everything yourself.  Let us know if there is any area we can help you with.