Household Contact & Authority Map
Who can approve changes, who gets updates, and who makes decisions — in one place
When multiple family members are involved in care, mixed signals cause real problems. "My sister said to change the schedule." "My brother approved that vendor." This document puts the rules in writing. Fill it out, print it, and tape it inside your caregiver notebook or put it on the fridge. When there's a question about authority, point here.
1 Household information
Basic identifying information for the household you're supporting.
2 Primary contact
The single decision-maker for day-to-day logistics and approvals.
3 Alternate / backup contact
Who steps in when the Primary Contact is unavailable? Define their authority clearly.
4 Additional family members
Everyone else involved in the care circle. Clarify who gets information and who has decision-making power.
| Name | Relationship | Phone | Gets Updates? | Can Authorize? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 Authorization & legal documents
Know what's in place, who holds it, and where to find it. In an emergency, no one should have to search.
6 Communication preferences
How this family wants to receive information, and how often. Set expectations upfront so no one feels over- or under-informed.
7 Decision authority quick reference
The fast-lookup table. For each type of decision, who makes the call and what's the process? Tape this to the front of the binder.
| Decision Type | Who Decides | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling changes | ||
| Vendor / service changes | ||
| Spending decisions | ||
| Emergency decisions | ||
| Care routine changes | ||
| Adding / removing helpers |
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