Long-Term Care Checklists: A Guide for Adult Children

Planning long-term care for an aging parent can feel overwhelming. Checklists give you a roadmap—something to hold onto when you’re balancing big emotions and critical decisions.

This guide includes comprehensive long-term care checklists for adult children, covering finances, legal documents, healthcare coordination, and housing options. These checklists are designed to reduce stress, support thoughtful planning, and ensure your parent’s dignity and preferences come first.

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💸 Financial Planning Checklist

Understanding your parent's financial picture is step one. Long-term care often comes with significant costs.

✅ Use this checklist:

• [ ] List all income sources (Social Security, pensions, investments)¹
• [ ] Review bank accounts, savings, and assets
• [ ] Review long-term care insurance (coverage, benefit amounts, elimination period)
• [ ] Understand what Medicare covers (and doesn’t)²
• [ ] Check Medicaid eligibility based on income/assets³
• [ ] Research VA benefits for veterans (Aid & Attendance)⁴
• [ ] Confirm who holds financial power of attorney
• [ ] Budget for in-home care, assisted living, or skilled nursing
• [ ] Consult a financial planner or eldercare expert

➤ Dive deeper:

• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Medicare Coverage Guide
• Medicaid and Long-Term Care
• How to Budget for Parental Care

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📜 Legal Preparation Checklist

Legal documents give you the ability to act on your parent’s behalf and protect their wishes.

✅ Legal documents to gather or review:

• [ ] Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
• [ ] Living Will / Advance Directive⁵
• [ ] General Durable Power of Attorney (for finances)
• [ ] Last Will and Testament
• [ ] Trust documents (if applicable)
• [ ] Review and update beneficiary designations (life insurance, retirement accounts)
• [ ] Store all documents in a secure, accessible location
• [ ] Consult with an elder law attorney

“Advance directives help ensure residents’ rights and choices are honored when they can no longer speak for themselves.” — CMS, Appendix PP, F155–F157⁶

➤ Related content:

• Power of Attorney Guide
• Estate Planning and Trusts for Parents

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🩺 Medical and Health Care Checklist

Ongoing care coordination becomes essential as your parent's needs increase.

✅ Medical info to organize:

• [ ] List of current diagnoses and chronic conditions
• [ ] Up-to-date list of medications (with dosages and schedule)
• [ ] Contact info for all doctors, specialists, and therapists
• [ ] Copies of insurance cards and policies
• [ ] Identify and coordinate care team members
• [ ] Review emergency contact list
• [ ] Discuss goals of care and advance care planning⁵
• [ ] Schedule regular hearing, vision, dental, and wellness checkups
• [ ] Evaluate current ability to perform daily activities (bathing, dressing, mobility)
• [ ] Complete a home safety assessment to reduce fall risk⁷

“Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults... most are preventable.” — CDC⁷

➤ More support:

• Advance Care Planning
• Home Safety Checklist
• Fall Proofing Home

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🏠 Housing and Long-Term Living Checklist

Where your parent lives will shape their day-to-day safety, independence, and connection to others.

✅ Evaluate housing options:

• [ ] Assess current home for accessibility and safety⁸
• [ ] Consider needed home modifications (grab bars, ramps, widened doors)⁸
• [ ] Explore in-home care providers and costs
• [ ] Research assisted living facilities and services
• [ ] Compare skilled nursing homes vs. assisted living²
• [ ] Look into Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
• [ ] Consider respite care or trial stays for short-term needs
• [ ] Evaluate proximity to medical care and family
• [ ] Ask about social programs and community life
• [ ] Tour facilities and ask specific questions about staff, meals, and emergency plans

“Social isolation among older adults is associated with higher risks for depression, heart disease, and cognitive decline.” — NIA⁹

➤ Explore:

• Home vs. Facility Care Checklist
• Pre-Move Checklist for Assisted Living
• Questions to Ask Care Managers

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🗓️ Weekly/Monthly Ongoing Checklist

Once care is in place, regular check-ins help ensure your parent’s needs are being met.

✅ Weekly / monthly reminders:

• [ ] Check in on mood, eating habits, and daily activities
• [ ] Refill medications and schedule appointments
• [ ] Monitor caregiver communication and care quality
• [ ] Review bank and billing statements for unusual activity
• [ ] Visit in person if possible—or connect via video chat
• [ ] Address any new safety or mobility issues

➤ See: Weekly Checklist for Visiting Parents

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🧾 Final Thoughts

Long-term care planning doesn’t happen all at once. These checklists help you move forward with clarity and confidence, step by step.

“When families plan ahead, they reduce stress and increase the chance of honoring the older adult’s wishes.” — ACL.gov³

Print out the checklists. Bookmark this page. Share it with siblings. Most of all, remember: you’re not alone. Planning is one of the greatest gifts you can offer your parent—and yourself.

➤ Visit our full Caregiver Support Section

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Explore Related Topics:

• Long-Term Care Checklist for Families: Navigating Your Parent’s Future