I Have Become a Caregiver: What Next?

Do not let all knowledge and responsibility live in one person’s head. Build a small care system around contacts, medication information, appointments, routines and backup help.

General health and practical information, not medical care. If you are worried about symptoms, recovery or a baby’s health, contact a qualified health professional. In the US, call 911 for an emergency and call/text 988 for suicide or mental-health crisis support. How we handle health-sensitive guidance.

Short answer

Do not let all knowledge and responsibility live in one person’s head. Build a small care system around contacts, medication information, appointments, routines and backup help.

Create one care notebook

Keep current clinician contacts, medication list, allergies, key diagnoses, insurance / administrative details, appointments, questions and routine information in one place appropriate to your situation.

Separate care from household labor

Meals, shopping, transport, cleaning, bills, pet care and family updates are care work too. They can often be delegated even when hands-on care cannot.

Build a backup before a crisis

Name at least one person who knows where key information is and what to do if the main caregiver becomes sick or unavailable.

Protect the caregiver

Caregiving that depends on one person never sleeping, eating or leaving the house is not a stable system. Ask the care team what respite, community or social-work resources exist.

You may also need

Keep the next step close.

Priorities

Build my plan

Reduce the transition to a few next steps.

Open →

Capacity

Self-care

Make practical care part of the plan.

Open →

Support

Help someone else

Give family and friends better ways to help.

Open →