Planning guide
Backup people, replacement care and the care handoff
Making sure the knowledge and routines of care live in more than one person.
Why this matters
A family's care plan often lives in one or two people's heads. Caregivers' capacity changes over time through work, health, retirement or moving, and that is normal. A plan that does not depend on everything staying the same is more sturdy and kinder to everyone.
Steps that help
Name at least one backup person who knows the routines, and let them spend time providing care while you are available.
Write down what works: communication cues, sensory needs, medications, routines, favorite things, what to do when things go wrong. The future Continuity Book is designed for this.
Estimate what the care you provide would cost if paid for. Unpaid care is real work, and that number shows what support may need to be replaced.
Set a target for when the support system should no longer rely mainly on one caregiver, and work toward it gradually.
Where to get help
Parent Training and Information Centers are federally funded and free to families. They can explain transition planning, school services and local supports.
Questions worth asking
- Who could be a backup person and what would they need to learn?
- What should I write down first?
- How could we move toward a gradual handoff?
Official source
Free help for families planning care and transitions.
Add your ZIP code in the calculator to see your state's resource.
General educational information, not legal, tax, medical or financial advice. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm details with the agency or a qualified professional.