A care information folder is the one place where everything important lives. It doesn't need to be fancy — a folder on your phone, a binder on a shelf, or a secure app like Caregura all work. What matters is that it's findable, up to date, and shared with the right people.

The essentials

Start with the basics: full name, date of birth, and a photo. Then the medical picture — conditions, allergies, blood type, and a current list of medications with doses and times. Add the GP, hospital number, and any advance decisions or care plans.

The people

Keep a contact list that goes beyond doctors. Family, neighbours, the pharmacist, the domiciliary care agency, and anyone who'd need to know if something happened. Note who should be called first, and who should be told only in certain circumstances.

The day-to-day

This is the part that's easy to forget and impossible to replace: the daily routine. When someone gets up, what they eat, when medication is taken, what helps them settle at night. The small preferences that turn a difficult day into a manageable one.

The paperwork

Insurance details, benefit letters, wills, lasting power of attorney, and any documents a carer might need. Keep copies where they can be found, and note where the originals are stored.

Share it before you must

A folder no one else can open helps no one. Make sure at least one trusted person knows where it is and can get to it. That's the difference between information and peace of mind.