The Caregiver Records Guide

First: the authority to act

Without the right documents, providers and banks legally cannot work with you. Establish authority first — everything else depends on it.

• Medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy naming you (or know who it names).
• Durable financial power of attorney.
• HIPAA authorizations at every provider, naming you.
• Advance directive / living will — know where the original is.
• If no documents exist and capacity allows, this is the most urgent conversation to have — with a qualified professional's help.

The medical file

• One current medication list — name, dose, prescriber, pharmacy — updated at every change and carried to every appointment.
• Diagnosis list with dates, and the story of each major event.
• Every provider: name, specialty, phone, portal login existence (not the passwords in the open).
• Insurance cards, plan documents, and every explanation of benefits for major care.
• Appointment log: date, provider, what was said, what changes.