Know what to do first. Keep track of everything after.
The Parent Care Playbook and Planner is a 164-page printable guide and planner for the moment you realize Mom or Dad needs more help. Step-by-step guidance tells you what to do next, and the trackers, logs and forms hold every detail in one place.
Nobody hands you a manual when your parent starts needing help.
It usually starts with something small. Then, all at once, you are the one everyone calls.
The visit that worried you
Unopened mail, an empty fridge, the same story told twice. You drove home not knowing what to do first.
Six bottles, three doctors
Nobody has the full medication list, and every appointment starts from scratch.
"Discharge is in two hours"
A hospital stay ends faster than anyone expects, and the questions come up after you get home.
The family group chat
Everyone has opinions. One person does most of the work. Resentment builds quietly.
Letters you can't decode
Medicare notices, denials, statements. Each one seems to need a reply by a deadline.
And you're running on empty
Caregiving becomes a second job squeezed around work, kids and sleep.
of sandwich-generation caregivers say they were completely unprepared, at first, for caring for a parent and their children at the same time. If you feel lost, you're starting where almost everyone starts.
Source: Care.com Sandwich Generation Report, July 2026A playbook that guides you, and a planner that keeps it all.
Most care planners give you blank boxes. This one also tells you what to do with them.
Know what to do next
- A 90-day plan from the first worrying visit onward
- 9 conversation scripts for driving, money, moving and siblings
- What to ask in hospital and before discharge
- Legal documents and Medicare explained in plain language
- How to compare home care, assisted living and more
Keep every detail in one place
- Medication lists, weekly charts and refill trackers
- Appointment records, symptom and falls logs
- Daily care logs, routines and handover notes
- Shared care rota and sibling update log
- Bills, care costs and a family cost-sharing agreement
164 pages. 17 sections. Every stage of care.
Tap any line in the clickable contents to jump straight to a section. Every tracker is designed to be printed again and again.
- Getting started: your first 90 days
- Personal & emergency information
- Healthcare contacts
- Medical history & allergies
- Medication management
- Appointments & consultations
- Hospital stays & discharge
- Symptoms & changes
- Daily care & routines
- Mobility, safety & equipment
- Conversations & shared care
- Legal documents & future wishes
- Insurance, Medicare & benefits
- Money, bills & care costs
- Care options & decisions
- Home, household & services
- Your wellbeing, backup & support
More than a record book.
| What you get | Typical planner | This playbook |
|---|---|---|
| Medication, appointment and contact records | ✓ | ✓ |
| Step-by-step guidance on what to do first | — | ✓ |
| Scripts for hard conversations | — | ✓ |
| Hospital stay and discharge planner | — | ✓ |
| Legal documents and Medicare in plain language | — | ✓ |
| Fair cost-sharing between siblings | — | ✓ |
| Care options comparison and facility checklists | — | ✓ |
| Backup plan for when you can't be there | — | ✓ |
| Reprint any page as often as you need | — | ✓ |
Print it. Write in it. Share it with your siblings.
Keep the binder at your parent's home, take the appointment pages to every visit, and send the rota to the family. Prefer screens? Fill it in on a tablet with any PDF app that supports handwriting.
Start in the next five minutes.
Buy once
Secure checkout. Your download link arrives straight away.
Download the PDF
One 164-page file, US Letter size, with a clickable contents page.
Print or fill in on a tablet
Start with the one-page care overview and the 90-day plan. Add the rest as you need it.
The Parent Care Playbook and Planner
- 164-page printable PDF with clickable contents
- 17 step-by-step guide pages and a 90-day plan
- 9 conversation scripts for the hard talks
- 100+ trackers, logs and forms
- Hospital stay and discharge planner
- Legal documents, Medicare and money pages
- 5 AI prompts to decode insurance letters safely
- Caregiver check-ins, respite and backup plan
Digital product. No physical item will be shipped.
Before you buy
Is this a physical book?
No. It's a 164-page digital PDF you download straight after checkout. Print the whole thing, print only the pages you need, or fill it in on a tablet.
What size are the pages?
US Letter (8.5 × 11 in). It also prints on A4 if you choose "fit to page" in your print settings.
Can I fill it in on my iPad or tablet?
Yes. Open it in any PDF app that supports handwriting or text boxes, such as GoodNotes, Notability or Adobe Acrobat. The contents page links make it quick to move around.
Can I print pages more than once?
Yes. Medication charts, appointment records, daily logs and rotas are designed to be printed as often as you need them.
Is it only for families in the United States?
The Medicare, legal document and resource pages refer to US programs. The trackers, logs, scripts and checklists work for families anywhere.
Is this legal or medical advice?
No. It's general information and an organizing tool. For decisions about legal documents, treatment or insurance, speak to a qualified professional. The planner helps you arrive prepared.
Can I share it with my siblings?
Yes, share it with family members who help care for the same parent. Please don't resell or post the file publicly.
Start with one page today.
Fill in the care overview tonight. By the end of the week, you'll know where everything is and what to do next.
The Parent Care Playbook and Planner · Digital download
General information and an organizing tool for families in the United States. Not legal, medical, financial or insurance advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Sorting out the digital side too? Get this Playbook together with Everything Online, Sorted, our digital legacy and password vault, in the Peace of Mind Bundle, and save $11.99.