When You Deploy: Designated Family Caregiver Documents

You want your family to receive the best care possible during your deployment. And a family care plan provides the information and documents necessary for a designated caregiver to help your family until you return home.

Family care plans

The family care plan is a blueprint that describes the care your family requires while you’re away. Although the military doesn’t require family care plans for all service members, you must have one if you’re a single parent, a dual-military family with children younger than 19, or if you have sole responsibility for caring for a disabled or elderly family member. You and your designated caregiver should work together on this document to be sure it includes all necessary information, including:

• Child care guidance – Expectations and schedules for child care, school and extracurricular activities
• Medical care information – Medications, allergies and doctor’s appointments
• Parenting responsibilities and challenges – Should include information on food preferences and restrictions, bedtime, discipline, religious observances and activities, social and leisure-time activities, safety precautions and allowances and spending
• Contact information – For friends and relatives, health care and other service providers, community resources and your unit
• Important documents – Location of documents such as wills, insurance papers and birth certificates
• Finances – Information on how to manage the financial support of family members
• Alternative caregiver – Name and contact information of an alternate caregiver

Other important documents

Also keep these documents current and available to your designated caregiver:

• Specific power of attorney: This authorizes your caregiver to make parenting decisions on your behalf for a specified period, including decisions related to medical care. A POA is required as part of your family care plan.
• Military ID cards: Make sure each family member age 10 and older is registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and has a current ID card. Caregivers do not get their own ID cards while caring for your family.
• Agent letter of authorization: Caregivers can access on-installation facilities to support your family members in their care, but they must have a letter of authorization signed by the commanding officer of the installation. You can request this letter through the ID card office at your installation.

For more information about documents your designated family caregiver needs, talk with a Military OneSource consultant at 800-342-9647. OCONUS/International? View overseas calling options. The legal assistance offices on your installation can also help with any legal documents to support your family care plan.