Paperwork saves you in a crisis
Nobody enjoys organising documents. But when your loved one is admitted to hospital at 2am, or a social worker calls out of the blue, or you need to speak to their bank — having the right paperwork to hand can save hours of stress and prevent real problems.
This list covers the essentials every family carer should have organised and accessible.
Medical documents
- Medication list: complete, up-to-date, including dosages, frequencies, prescribing doctor, and pharmacy
- GP and consultant details: names, practice addresses, phone numbers
- Hospital discharge summaries: from any recent admissions
- Diagnosis letters: formal confirmation of conditions
- Allergy information: medication allergies, food allergies, latex allergy
- Care plan: if one exists from the NHS or social services
Legal documents
- Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): both Health & Welfare and Property & Financial Affairs, if registered
- Will: location of the original, name of the solicitor who holds a copy
- Advance Decision (Living Will): if one exists, detailing treatment preferences
- Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) form: if applicable
Financial and administrative
- Bank details: which bank, account numbers (stored securely)
- Pension information: state pension, workplace pension, private pension
- Benefits received: Attendance Allowance, PIP, Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction
- Insurance policies: home, contents, life, private health
- Utility providers: gas, electric, water, phone, broadband
- Mortgage or tenancy details
Personal information
- NHS number
- National Insurance number
- Passport (location and expiry)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
How to organise it
Keep physical copies in a clearly labelled folder at home, and digital copies in a shared location accessible to the care circle. Consider:
- A physical document wallet — clearly labelled, in a known location, that someone could grab in an emergency
- Scanned copies in a shared drive or care coordination app
- A one-page emergency summary — medications, allergies, GP details, next of kin — that anyone could hand to a paramedic
The best system is one that everyone in the family knows about and can access when needed.