As a caregiver, it's important to be organized and keep track of important documents related to your role. These documents can help you provide better care for your loved one, ensure that their wishes are followed, and provide peace of mind for both you and your aging parent. Here are some important documents that caregivers should have:

1. Medical records: Medical records provide essential information about an aging parent's health history, current conditions, medications, and allergies. It's important to keep these records up-to-date and easily accessible in case of an emergency or a visit to the doctor.
   
2. Legal documents: Legal documents such as a power of attorney, living will, or healthcare proxy can help ensure that your loved one's wishes are followed in case they become unable to make decisions for themselves. These documents can also provide guidance for caregivers regarding decisions related to medical care and end-of-life issues.
   
3. Financial documents: Financial documents such as bank statements, bills, and insurance policies can help a caregiver manage their loved one's finances and ensure bills are paid on time. It's important to have a clear understanding of your loved one's financial situation to avoid any surprises and plan accordingly.
   
4. Caregiver agreements: A caregiver agreement is a written contract between the caregiver and the person receiving care. This agreement can outline the scope of services to be provided, the payment terms, and any other expectations or responsibilities.
   

Having these documents organized and easily accessible can help caregivers provide better care for their aging parent, ensure that their wishes are followed, and prevent any surprises. It's important to make sure these documents are regularly reviewed and updated as needed.

Now, check out these additional resources.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, free help is immediately available.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, via phone, text and online chat, offering people compassionate care and support from trained crisis counselors for individuals, families or their loved ones. One does not have to be suicidal to call 988 but can reach out when experiencing any behavioral health crisis. 988 call services are available in English and Spanish, along with interpretation services in more than 150 languages. Texting 988 and online chat are currently available only in English. Veterans and military service members can call 988 and press “1” to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.

The University of Washington Dementia Palliative Education Network and the WA State Dementia Action Collaborative have created a new free toolkit for family/friend care partners of people living with dementia. 
 
The goal of this toolkit is to: 

• Explain how to form a working partnership with healthcare providers
• Show hot to organize, streamline tasks, and communicate about the care needs of the person living with dementia 
• Reduce chances of avoidable care transitions 

 
The toolkit includes:

• Easy-to-navigate narrated presentation
• Video scenario demonstrations 
• Care, medication, and appointment log sheets 

 
For more information about the toolkit, click here. To view the flyer, click the button below.

Oslo neurosurgeon Christer Mjåset, vice president of the Norwegian Medical Association, suggests 4 questions that we should pose to our doctors the next time they recommend a medication, procedure, test, treatment or surgery.

• Is this really necessary?
• What are the risks?
• Are there other options?
  
• What happens if I don’t do anything?