Creating a caregiver portfolio is essential for many reasons. The number one reason is the peace of mind of the caregiver and the care recipient. This folder is a portable collection of resources that you can have at your fingertips to assist you in your role as a caregiver.

A caregiver folder should include as much information as is necessary for the needs of the care recipient. It should be portable to accompany the caregiver and recipient of care when visiting healthcare providers. Most doctors will ask you about the medications you are taking to make sure they have the most up-to-date list. If they make changes, you can update the list at that time.

Create at least two copies of the caregiver folder. Keep a copy in the care recipient’s home and a copy with the caregiver. Update all copies as things change and put the date of the change next to each entry. Check-in dates ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

There are a couple of options for creating a caregiver folder and copies. A physical copy makes more sense so that the primary copy resides with the recipient of care. That way, all care providers who enter the home of care recipients have access to their information.

Another option, possibly for a copy, is in digital format.. Digital format options include: applications on a smartphone or file sharing in the cloud or on the Internet. This format can be useful in terms of not having to carry a folder with you, but portable and easily accessible to care recipient information. I recommend creating the physical folder first and then determining which option to choose for the copy.

Choose a three-ring binder with a pocket on the inside front and back covers for the hard copy. Some folders have a zippered version that will keep things from falling out, and some have pockets on the inside. Sheet protectors and tab dividers help organize categories for quick and easy access.

As mentioned above, each folder should have all the necessary information and will also be specific to the needs of the beneficiaries of care. Below is a list of items that are typically included in a caregiver folder. Choose the items you consider necessary to create your folder and collect or create these documents. Add other required documents that may not be listed here.

• Key recipient of care information

• Emergency contact list

• Medical Professional Contact List: Physicians, Physical Therapists, Occupational and Speech Therapists, Mental Health Professionals, Social Workers, Pharmacies, etc.

• List of medications, doses, schedules and who administers the medication

• List of allergies, both drug and environmental and how they occur

• Appointment calendar

• Homecare workers’ contact information, their hours, and description of services – this is important for supervision

• Medical records

• Instructions for discharge from hospital stays

• Multiple copies of advance directives, the medical professionals who received a copy, and the date the copy was provided; The date provided is important because if the professional says they don’t have a copy, that could be a red flag as to their history. keeping the skill

• Multiple copies of the Power of Attorney (POA), a list of the professionals who were provided a copy and the date the copy was provided; The date provided is important because if the professional says they don’t have a copy, that could be a red flag as to their record-keeping ability.

• List of dietary requirements, if applicable

• List of sources of income, monthly expenses, payment information, who pays the bills, and payment schedule

After creating the initial physical folder, determine how you want to make a copy or copies. Remember to update all copies when a change occurs. If you choose to make a physical copy, retrace the steps you took to create the initial caregiver folder. Going digital for copies makes perfect sense when you have multiple caregivers. File sharing allows information to be shared in real time, so everyone has the most accurate information at any given time.

As mentioned above, there are a couple of options for creating a digital caregiver folder; applications on a smartphone or share files in the cloud or on the Internet. There are many organizer apps for smartphones and you need to do a little research to find the one that works for you. My preference for organizer apps and the one I use is Evernote. It has many features for organizing documents including file sharing. Other file sharing options include Dropbox and Google docs.

When you determine the digital option, you will use, scan or take a photo with your phone of the documents in the physical folder and upload them to your smartphone application or file sharing option. Then, if applicable, share the documents with your circle of caregivers to keep them informed.