A caregiver needs instructions they can find and understand while looking after your household. Prepare a short sheet, then walk through it together before you leave.
Put the first actions at the top
Write the full address, including the unit and access details a responder may need. Add the applicable emergency number. In the United States, call 911 for an immediate emergency.
List your contact number and a backup adult who has agreed to help. Confirm that both numbers work. Explain who to contact if you cannot be reached and where the caregiver can find a working phone.
Record essential care information
Write each child's name and the care details the caregiver needs. Include known allergies and the location of any clinician-provided action plan. Give medication instructions separately and review them with the caregiver. A general household worksheet cannot replace a child's prescribed treatment plan.
Explain the agreed pickup arrangements and who is authorized to collect each child. Keep the information limited to what the caregiver needs for the visit.
Show the household details
Point out the exit routes, flashlight, first-aid kit, and agreed safe meeting place. Explain relevant door locks and any access needs. Tell the caregiver to leave an unsafe area and follow emergency services' instructions.
Show the page's location. If you also share a digital copy, check that the caregiver can open it. Check it again after edits so an older message attachment does not become the working copy.
A fictional handoff example
- Address: 100 Example Lane, unit 2, Sampletown.
- Parent: Alex Rivera, 202-555-0142.
- Backup adult: Morgan Lee, 202-555-0168, has agreed to help.
- Care records: the child's current care plan is in the labelled folder; review it together before the visit.
- Flashlight: drawer beside the entry door.
- Meeting place: walk there together and write its exact location.
- Expected return: write the time for this visit.
Replace these details with your own. Ask the caregiver to point to the address and backup number, then show you the flashlight. Resolve any uncertainty before you leave.
Keep the sheet current
Check the contact details, care records, and return time for each visit. Replace obsolete printed copies. Keep a date on the sheet so a helper can identify the current version.
Start with the free printable emergency sheet. Add a separate care page where needed. For a larger household record, use the emergency binder checklist or view Hardcopy's sample pages.