Free download
Free Senior Care Starter Kit for families
A free, fillable 13-page senior care checklist and planning kit for New Jersey and New York families. Use it before you call anyone, before you tour, and before you sign.
No sign-up. No fee. Print it or fill it in on screen.
PDF, about 0.5 MB. Works in Adobe Acrobat Reader and Preview.
What is inside the kit
- 01. Start here. Three first steps and space for what matters most to your loved one.
- 02. Understand the options. Home support, adult day and respite, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in plain words.
- 03. Needs snapshot. A ten-row checklist for daily tasks, memory, mood, and overnight needs. A conversation aid, not a clinical score.
- 04. Tour worksheets. 25 questions on care, staffing, safety, daily life, pricing, and contract terms.
- 05. Money worksheet. Compare up to three options line by line, including upfront fees and first-month cash.
- 06. Decision worksheet. Choose for fit, not first impressions.
- 07. Medication list. One current list with allergies, pharmacy, and prescriber.
- 08. People and paperwork. Contacts and a document checklist: ID, insurance, healthcare proxy, power of attorney.
- 09. Transition checklist. Before moving day, what to pack, arrival, and the first follow-up.
- 10. Trusted starting points. National Institute on Aging, Medicare, and the Eldercare Locator.
How families use it
Start with the needs snapshot together with your parent. Bring the tour worksheets to every visit so each community answers the same questions, then put the written quotes side by side in the money worksheet. For a deeper list of questions, see questions to ask on an assisted living tour and how to pay for assisted living in NJ.
Social workers, discharge planners, and care managers are welcome to share the kit with families.
Rather talk it through?
Bring the kit to a free call. We listen first, then send you the licensed options that fit your family's needs, in writing.
Questions about the kit
- Is the starter kit really free?
- Yes. Download it, print it, or fill it in on screen. No sign-up and no fee.
- Can I type into the PDF?
- Yes. The fields are fillable in most PDF readers, including Adobe Acrobat Reader and Preview on a Mac. You can also print it and write by hand.
- Who is it for?
- Families in New Jersey and New York who are starting to look at home care, assisted living, or memory care for a parent, and the social workers and discharge planners who help them.
- Is my information sent anywhere?
- No. The PDF stays on your device. Completed pages can hold sensitive health and family details, so save a private copy and share only what is needed.
Educational planning resource, not a clinical assessment or medical, legal, tax, or financial advice. For an emergency, call 911.
This site is not medical or financial advice. Confirm coverage with the plan or the state Medicaid office. Facility fees are set by the community.