Karen and I are both list makers by nature, and when you have so many people involved, this instinct becomes all the more necessary.  These lists will help keep everyone on the same page.  In our Checklists & More section, you will find blank templates for each of the various lists recommended below. 

For Your Parents' Home:
Create a list of important information and put it in a central location, such as on the refrigerator door.  Include such elements as:

• Your phone numbers, at home and at work, and your e-mail addresses;
• Emergency contact information for other family, friends and neighbors (in the order of who should be contacted first);
  
• List of all medicines (names of medications, dosage regimens, names of prescribing MDs, etc.) and the locations in the home where all medications can be found.  Make sure this list is kept current at all times – this is vital, given the changing nature of prescriptions;
• List of doctors and their contact information;
• List of any other vital health information that may be necessary in case of an emergency, such as if, say, an EMT were suddenly called to your parents’ home.  What sort of information might be critical for this emergency technician to know?  It would be important to mention any medication(s) that your parents might be allergic to, or if they have any chronic conditions, such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease, etc.

For Your Home:
Create and maintain a binder with information such as:

• A list of doctors with contact information;
• An ongoing medical history with as much information as you can find about diagnoses, procedures, tests and prognoses;
• Contact information for family, friends and neighbors;
• A list of all medications (the name and purpose of each particular medication, as well as the various dosage regimens);
• All insurance information, with all pertinent personal data, such as birthdates and Social Security numbers, etc.

It’s also helpful to have important financial information, especially If you’re concerned that your parents may forget to pay their bills, and you can foresee yourself trying to rectify the situation and eventually taking over that responsibility.  This should include mortgage and/or rental information, bank contact information, and account numbers for utility companies (gas, electric, water, etc.).