Care planning tools

Turn a difficult week into a clearer next step.

Use practical, interactive planners to map care gaps, family coverage, home safety, transitions and provider questions before you choose a service or living arrangement.

Start the care-needs assessment Talk through your situation

Practical guidanceLocal contextClear boundaries

Turn a difficult week into a clearer next step. — editorial illustration — Editorial stock photography; models shown are not Alderwick clients or caregivers.

Alderwick planning principleStart with what changed—not a service label.

Then build the smallest reliable plan that closes the real gaps.

01Care Needs AssessmentFind the pressure point 02Weekly Coverage CalculatorTurn gaps into hours 03Home vs. Assisted LivingCompare the whole problem 04Family Caregiver LoadSee what is becoming unsustainable 05Hospital-to-Home ChecklistOrganize the first week 06Home Safety ReviewWalk through the house 07Agency Interview BuilderMake a useful question list 08Long-Distance Care PlanBuild local eyes and backup

What these tools do: help a family organize routines, coverage and questions. They do not diagnose a condition, determine a required level of care, or replace medical, legal or emergency advice.

Care Needs Assessment

What is becoming unreliable?

Choose the pattern creating the most pressure right now. The result gives you a practical first planning step.

Weekly Coverage Calculator

Turn the uncovered parts of the week into a planning estimate.

Enter only the time blocks that currently have no dependable family or other coverage. The total is a scheduling estimate, not a recommendation for how much care someone medically needs.

MorningBreakfast, dressing, starting the day

Days / weekHours on those days

MiddayMeals, errands, appointments

Days / weekHours on those days

EveningDinner, routines, fatigue or confusion

Days / weekHours on those days

OvernightWaking, toileting, supervision or caregiver rest

Days / weekHours on those days

Home Care vs. Assisted Living Planner

Which problem are you actually trying to solve?

Select every statement that is true. This does not choose a setting for you; it shows which questions deserve more weight in the comparison.

The home still works reasonably wellThe main gaps happen at predictable times. The older adult strongly prefers familiar routinesRemaining at home is a meaningful priority. Needs are spread across most of the daySupport is difficult to concentrate into a few visits. Isolation or meals are a recurring problemBuilt-in daily structure may matter. The house itself is becoming difficultStairs, layout or upkeep are part of the problem. Family can still provide dependable backupThe plan does not rely entirely on paid coverage.

Family Caregiver Load Assessment

Is the current family plan becoming too fragile?

Check the patterns that have been happening repeatedly—not just on one unusually bad day.

Sleep is regularly interrupted by caregivingWork or essential appointments are being missedThe caregiver cannot leave without worryingHands-on tasks feel physically unsafe or unsustainableSiblings or relatives assume someone else is covering the gapThere is no dependable backup if the caregiver gets sickThe caregiver is increasingly irritable, exhausted or unable to recoverThe older adult’s needs have increased but the family schedule has not changed

Hospital-to-Home Checklist

Organize the first week before discharge.

Use this alongside—not instead of—the treating team’s discharge instructions.

We have the written discharge instructions and clinical contact numbersFollow-up appointments and transportation are assignedThe home can be entered safely and essential items are easy to reachMeals and groceries are covered for the first several daysSomeone owns pharmacy pickup and medication questions are directed to the clinical teamTherapy, home health or equipment arrangements are confirmed when orderedFamily knows who will be present during the hardest parts of the dayWe know which changes should trigger a call to the clinical team or emergency help

Home Safety Review

Walk through the home with ordinary routines in mind.

This is a household planning check, not a clinical fall-risk assessment.

Main walking paths are clear of loose rugs, cords and clutterFrequently used items can be reached without unsafe climbing or stretchingLighting is adequate from bedroom to bathroom at nightBathroom routines can be completed without an unsafe transfer or reachStairs, entries and railings are in good repairA working phone or call method is reachable where the person spends timeThe person has a realistic plan for meals, hydration and groceriesSomeone would notice quickly if the normal routine suddenly changed

Questions to Ask a Home Care Agency

Build the interview around the parts of your plan that cannot fail.

Select the topics you want included. We will turn them into a clean interview list you can copy or print.

Scheduling & backupTask scope & hands-on helpCaregiver matching & continuityPricing, minimums & cancellationsTransportation & accompanimentFamily communication & change reportingSafety concerns & escalationTraining & role requirements

Long-Distance Caregiving Planner

Build three layers: local eyes, defined action and escalation.

Fill in what you know. Blank fields reveal exactly where the backup plan is still weak.

Local person who can physically check the home Person who handles rides / appointments Person with reliable home access First family decision-maker to call What change should trigger an immediate call?

A clearer next step

Want help making sense of the plan?

Bring the notes you created here. Start with what changed, what is becoming unreliable and what your family can still cover consistently.

Talk Through Your Care Needs