These are the printable versions of the tools in When Mom or Dad Can No Longer Manage Alone. Each chapter of the book ends with one. Print as many copies as you need for your own family, and bring them to appointments, family meetings and facility tours.
All 18 tools in one file
One PDF with every tool in the book, in chapter order. It’s 32 pages and prints on standard letter paper.
Download all 18 tools (PDF) →Free. No email required.
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Tools by chapter
| Ch. | Tool | What it’s for | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What I'm Noticing | Writing down changes, so you can tell a pattern from a bad day | Download PDF (1 page) |
| 2 | Seeing the Whole Day | Noticing what a short visit or phone call can miss | Download PDF (1 page) |
| 3 | Letter to the Doctor and Appointment Prep Sheet | Sharing what you've seen before a medical visit, and getting ready for it | Download PDF (3 pages) |
| 4 | Parent Preferences and Wishes | Learning what matters most to your parent, in their words | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 5 | The Decision Ladder | Moving from the smallest help to larger steps | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 6 | Family Meeting Agenda | Running a family meeting that ends with decisions | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 7 | Important Documents Checklist | Finding out which papers exist, where they are and what's missing | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 8 | Home Safety Walk-Through | Checking the home room by room | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 9 | Questions for a Home Care Agency | Comparing agencies before you hire | Download PDF (1 page) |
| 10 | Care Options and Cost Worksheet | Lining up the options and who pays | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 11 | Provider Check Worksheet | Checking an agency, hospice or facility before you trust it | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 12 | Questions for the Discharge Planner | Knowing what to ask before your parent leaves the hospital | Download PDF (1 page) |
| 13 | Living-Together Checklist | Deciding whether moving in together can work | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 14 | Tour and Contract Questions | Visiting a facility and reading the contract before signing | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 15 | Moving Timeline | Planning the move, step by step | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| 16 | Monthly Money Check | Watching for problems without taking over | Download PDF (1 page) |
| 17 | Driving Observation Checklist | Keeping track of driving warning signs over time | Download PDF (1 page) |
| 18 | My Limits Plan | Deciding what you can keep doing, and what you'll do when you can't | Download PDF (2 pages) |
Bonus printables: health records
Four more printables that are not in the book: a one-page summary for emergencies, a medication schedule, and logs for blood pressure and blood sugar.
| Type | Tool | What it’s for | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus | Emergency Information Sheet | One page for the refrigerator door: conditions, allergies, medicines, contacts and wishes, plus a wallet card | Download PDF (2 pages) |
| Bonus | Medication Schedule | Every medicine, what it is for and when it is taken, with a weekly check-off chart for a pill organizer | Download PDF (3 pages) |
| Bonus | Blood Pressure Log | A month of morning and evening readings, how to take them, and when to get help | Download PDF (3 pages) |
| Bonus | Blood Sugar Log | A month of glucose readings, with the CDC steps for treating a low | Download PDF (3 pages) |
Using these tools
The tools help you organize what you see, what you’re told and what you decide. They are not medical, legal or financial advice. When a tool raises a question about your parent’s health, legal papers or money, take it to your parent’s doctor, a lawyer who knows your state’s laws, or an advisor who knows your family’s finances.
The tools and worksheets may be printed and copied for personal use within your own family. They may not be republished, distributed commercially, modified for resale, or reproduced for other purposes without written permission from the author.
Looking for the sources behind the book? Links to every source, by chapter, are at AgingAtHomeSupport.com/book/sources.