How to Create a Family Care Plan for Caregivers

Communication is key. Talk with your provider and consider including additional information in the plan based on what your caregiver will need to know while you are away — especially if he or she does not have a military background and is unfamiliar with military life. You may want to invite your caregiver to observe your family routine prior to your leaving. Here are some tips to help you build your family care plan:

• Outline arrangements for daily activities. What does your routine look like? Make a schedule of the week’s events, including school day start and end times, any afterschool activities and child care details. Include upcoming school, social or family gatherings.
• Give details for family rules and behavior. What rules does your family already follow? Let your caregiver know as much as possible about how your family life works, including parenting responsibilities and rules. Write down specific details for mealtimes, bedtimes, discipline, and duties or chores around the house children might have.
• Provide medical information. What medical considerations does your caregiver need to be prepared for? List details about family physicians, medications and vitamins, allergies, immunizations, hospitals and regular appointments.
• List close contacts and other resources. Who in your network will support your caregiver? Provide names, addresses and telephone numbers of relatives, neighbors and friends, doctors and dentists, military and community resources, and the military unit and family readiness program points of contact.
• Note locations of important documents. What documents will your caregiver need? These include wills, insurance papers, birth certificates and powers of attorney.
• Explain the importance of dependent ID cards. Check the expiration date on your family members’ ID cards and make sure they are registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS.
• Finances. How will you handle financial aspects? Explain any necessary information about financial matters that need to be handled while you’re away.

Your installation legal services office provides free assistance for a wide range of circumstances, including support with drafting these other important documents:

• Power of attorney: This legal document authorizes your caregiver to make parenting decisions on your behalf for a specified period of time, including decisions related to medical care. This document is required in your family care plan.
• Military ID cards: Make sure each family member aged 10 or older is registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, and has a current ID card. Your caregivers don’t get their own ID cards while caring for your family.
• Agent letter of authorization: Caregivers can access on-installation facilities such as commissary and exchanges to support care of your family members, 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. Explain to the caregiver how to use installation services.

Make sure your caregiver knows about these military resources that are available while you are gone:

• Military and Family Support Centers provide non-medical counseling and life-skills development and are found on most military installations. Visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS to find the contact information for your local Military and Family Support Center.
• The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program on your installation offers activities and includes child development programs and after-school care for children and teens.
• Military OneSource provides assistance 24/7 and will direct you to a number of other resources. Call 800-342-9647, use international calling options or schedule a live chat.