Dig in and ask questions.

Does your loved one (LO) want to stay in their home as long as possible? What plans do they have to make that possible? Who are their close friends, family or neighbours who can support them? Do they have food preferences? Are there household jobs they admit they need help with? Do they have end-of-life plans? These conversations are easier now than at three in the morning in an emergency department.

Build a simple information hub.

One folder, digital or paper, with the documents that summarise key aspects of your senior’s life: account list, healthcare contacts, will location, key passwords, and a one-page summary you can hand to a doctor in a crisis. Update it quarterly.

Form the support team you can actually call.

Introduce yourself to the family doctor, pharmacist, case worker through Vancouver Coastal Health or Fraser Health, lawyer, accountant, and geriatric specialist if relevant. For the doctor, you can do this even without Power of Attorney if your loved one signs a consent to disclose. Save names and direct lines, not just main numbers.

Review prescriptions.

Go through all prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements with a pharmacist. Confirm what each one is for, who prescribed it, and how often it is actually being taken. Ask the pharmacist to print a current medication list and flag anything that may interact or be duplicative. Set up a simple system for tracking refills so medications are not missed or unintentionally doubled.

Arrange an updated cognitive assessment.

If memory, judgment, confusion, or day-to-day functioning are changing, ask the family doctor or Vancouver Coastal Health / Fraser Health about updated cognitive testing. A current assessment can help support care planning, access to services, disability tax credit applications, safety decisions, and future legal or financial planning. It is much easier to establish a baseline early than during a crisis.

Review their cellphone plan.

Many systems depend on a working cellphone for authorisation or password recovery. Consider downgrading the plan or cancelling data, but do not cancel a cellphone that is tied to any important accounts.

Review the internet plan.

Even if your loved one barely uses it, household internet powers thermostats, leak sensors, doorbell cameras, smart locks, and your own ability to log into their accounts remotely. Keep a plan active, and, when possible, get your name on the account.

Update the address of record on every account.

Any account that mails statements, prescriptions, or tax documents should land at an address you actually check. CRA, ICBC, banks, insurance companies, utility companies, healthcare providers.

Talk to an accountant before the next tax cycle.

You may need to file taxes on behalf of the loved one. More important, what you pay for services provided by Vancouver Coastal Health or Fraser Health is determined based on income, so you need up-to-date taxes to determine rates and fees. The accountant will tell you what records to keep, and how to handle medical-expense receipts and disability tax credits (if applicable).

Confirm your legal authority and get it in writing.

A signed Power of Attorney is the start, but you also need notarised copies, the original on file, and clarity about whether it is enduring (active during incapacity) or general. If you have a Representation Agreement for healthcare decisions, make sure you know where the original is and have notarised copies for doctors and other medical practitioners.

Register the Power of Attorney at the bank.

Each major BC bank has its own POA registration process. Walk in with original documents or notarised copies, your ID, and your LO. Most banks today require an official appointment that both the person and the POA must attend. Ask for the branch manager if you can, to save time. At the appointment, ask for a confirmation that the POA is on file for every account, including investment accounts and credit cards.

Consider applying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).

Many seniors who need support with daily living tasks may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, especially people experiencing advancing memory loss, mobility issues, or difficulty managing everyday activities independently. Approval can open access to tax savings, retroactive credits, and other support programs. The application requires a medical practitioner to complete part of the form, and many eligible families never apply because they assume they will not qualify.

Find out what respite care options exist in your community.

Caregivers often wait until they are completely exhausted before looking into respite support, but many programs have waitlists or eligibility requirements. Ask early about respite beds, adult day programs, in-home respite, and short-term support through Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, community organisations, or private providers. Even occasional relief can make caregiving more sustainable over time.

Declutter what you can while you can.

Easier now than after a hospital stay. Photographs, paperwork, valuables, anything emotionally heavy. Tag what stays, document what leaves, and do it slowly over time with input from the LO when possible.

Caregiver’s Getting Started Checklist