Documents you need in place for your parents, partner, or person you are caring for
If you’re taking on the role of carer it’s really vital you can easily access any of their important documents in case the person you are supporting becomes ill, need to move, or want to access funding or benefits. This guide sets out the main documents you will need to have on hand.
Financial documents
If you’re helping your person to manage their finances or apply for any benefits you will need the right information. The important paperwork to have on hand will be:
Power of attorney (if you are to be their financial proxy)
A list of all bank accounts plus any online access codes and passwords
Pension documents, retirement fund information, and any annuity contracts
Tax returns
Savings bonds, share certificates, or brokerage accounts
Trust documents
Any partnership or business agreements
Deeds to any properties
Vehicle ownership papers
Documentation of loans and debts, including all mortgage and credit card accounts
You could also create a document with contact information for their solicitor, accountant, bank manager and any business or financial managers for quick reference when you need it.
Healthcare documents
In good or bad health, it’s really helpful to have the person’s preferences around care understood before the time comes. This can be done as an advance care directive as part of a care plan, or in a living will. These are documents that include their wishes and care instructions about life support, donation of organs and other medical issues.
A living will also designates a trusted person to be their power of attorney, which is someone who oversees and ensures that financial decisions documented in the living will are carried out.
Being able to quickly locate official paperwork like a power of attorney or an advanced health care directive can avoid a great deal of stress. Doctors will want proof that you are the designated decision-maker.
Having quick access to a person’s medical history can also be lifesaving during a medical emergency. For example, knowing the medication they are on can significantly influence the treatment administered.
Medical records are also necessary when applying for some benefits, or when moving to a retirement or assisted living community.
Important health care documents:
Power of attorney or healthcare proxy
Authorisation to release healthcare information
Living will (healthcare directive)
Personal medical history
Health insurance card/information
Long-term care insurance policy
Emergency information sheet with contact numbers for their GP and any specialists
End-of-life and estate planning documents
We can save ourselves and others added stress during an already difficult time by making sure that documents relating to estate planning and end-of-life have been drawn up, are up-to-date, and easily accessible.
If a person dies without having drafted a will, families can be thrown into unnecessary and lengthy legal and financial chaos.
Essential end-of-life documents:
A will
Trust documents
Life insurance policies
End-of-life instructions letter (regarding wishes or items not covered in a will, for example regarding memorial terms)
Actions letter (regarding wishes or items not covered in a will, for example regarding memorial terms)
Miscellaneous documents
Marriage papers
Divorce papers
List of online accounts, usernames and passwords
List of safe deposit boxes and the location of their keys
Birth certificate
Driver’s licence
Passport
Tips on storing those important documents if you don’t have a virtual Elderflowers Hub:
It’s not enough to know that these legal documents exist somewhere — they need to be accessible. Experts recommend that important documents be gathered in a master folder or box. The folder should be kept in a safe place such as a safety deposit box, fire-proof safe, or with a solicitor. You could also scan them to store online so they can be accessed quickly and easily.
