Most New Year’s resolutions are about self-improvement. This one is about preventing a crisis.
If something happened tonight, would your family know exactly what to do for your loved one? Who to call. Which meds they take. Which hospital they prefer. Where the paperwork is. Who has the keys. Who’s the backup when the primary caregiver can’t get there.
In South Jersey, a lot of families are juggling work, kids’ schedules, and long drives between Woodbury, Glassboro, Deptford, Swedesboro, Mullica Hill, Pitman, and the surrounding towns. That’s why a simple care plan matters. It turns panic into a plan.
This is a realistic, 30-minute “kitchen table” checklist you can knock out this week.
The goal (keep it simple)
A care plan is not a binder project. It’s a one-page set of answers to the questions that always come up during an urgent situation.
You can keep it in a notes app, a shared Google doc, or printed on the fridge. The format doesn’t matter. The clarity does.
Step 1: Write down the essentials (10 minutes)
Start with information you’d need if you had to call a provider or take your loved one to the ER.
- Primary care provider name, office number, and address
- Key specialists (cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, oncology, etc.)
- Preferred hospital system (Inspira, Cooper, Jefferson, Virtua, etc.)
- Pharmacy name, number, and location
- Diagnoses (plain English is fine)
- Allergies (including reactions)
Practical tip: take photos of insurance cards (front and back) and store them where at least two family members can access them.
Step 2: Do the medication reality check (5 minutes)
Medication lists are often outdated. Or they’re accurate but no one knows what’s actually being taken.
Write down:
- Medication name, dose, and schedule
- Who fills the pill box or manages refills
- What happens when a dose is missed
- Any “as needed” meds and when they’re used
Red flags that mean you should tighten the plan:
- Missed doses, doubled doses, or confusion about what’s been taken
- Multiple prescribers and no one reconciling the list
- Frequent “we ran out” situations
Step 3: Decide who does what (5 minutes)
This is where most families fall apart during an emergency. Everyone cares, but nobody is clearly assigned.
Pick:
- Primary point person (who providers call first)
- Backup point person (if the primary is at work, traveling, or sick)
- “Emergency runner” (who can physically get there fast)
Also capture:
- Who has a key (or door code)
- Alarm code and how to disarm it
- Where the spare key is stored (and who knows)
If siblings are spread across South Jersey and Philly, this alone can save hours.
Step 4: Quick home safety scan (5 minutes)
Winter in Gloucester and Salem County adds risk fast: icy steps, wet entryways, bulky coats, and less daylight.
Walk the main path your loved one uses:
- Entryway: non-slip mat, shoes not piled by the door, good lighting
- Stairs: sturdy handrail, clear steps, bright bulbs
- Bathroom: grab bars (or at least a plan), non-slip surface, nightlight
- Floors: remove throw rugs or secure them
- Living areas: cords tucked away, pathways clear, chair height manageable
One honest question: If your loved one fell, could they get help quickly? (Phone nearby, medical alert device, or a routine check-in plan.)
Step 5: Put the “paperwork” in one place (5 minutes)
You don’t need to solve every legal issue today. You do need to know what exists and where it is.
At minimum, document:
- HIPAA authorization (so providers can speak with family)
- Healthcare proxy / medical power of attorney (if available)
- Financial power of attorney (if available)
- DNR/MOLST (if applicable)
- Preferred emergency contact order (first/second/third)
If you don’t have some of these, the resolution can simply be: “We’re scheduling the appointment to put this in place.”
Step 6: Write down the “when to get help” triggers
Families wait too long because everything feels “kind of manageable” until it isn’t.
Consider outside help if you’re seeing any of these:
- Two falls in the last six months
- Missed meds, confusion, or sudden decline in hygiene
- Weight loss, poor appetite, dehydration, or repeated UTIs
- Increasing shortness of breath, fatigue, or weakness
- Multiple ER visits or hospitalizations in a short period
- Caregiver burnout (sleep disruption, work impact, resentment, constant worry)
This doesn’t automatically mean “full-time care.” Sometimes it means a few hours a week, a medication setup routine, safety-focused support, or skilled visits to stabilize a situation.
The 30-minute New Year’s Care Plan Checklist (copy/paste)
- PCP, specialists, pharmacy, preferred hospital
- Insurance cards photographed (front/back)
- Diagnoses and allergies listed
- Medication list updated and confirmed
- Primary caregiver + backup caregiver identified
- Key/access plan documented
- Home safety scan completed (entryway, stairs, bathroom, lighting, rugs)
- Meals/hydration plan (what’s realistic day-to-day)
- HIPAA + proxy/POA documents located (or plan to obtain)
- “Escalation triggers” written down
If you’re local and want a second set of eyes
If you’re in Gloucester County (and nearby parts of Salem, Cumberland, and Camden), you can treat this as your New Year’s resolution and keep it simple: get the plan on paper, then have someone sanity-check it.
BrightStar Care of Gloucester County can help families think through:
- What level of support actually fits (and what doesn’t)
- How to reduce fall risk and avoid avoidable ER visits
- Whether skilled nursing, therapy, or non-medical support makes sense right now
- How to build a sustainable routine that doesn’t burn out the family
If you want help turning your notes into a clean one-page care plan, reach out and we’ll walk through it with you.