Plans can change fast
Something changed?
Pick what happened. Each one has the steps for the next 24 to 72 hours, what is easy to miss, and which free tool to use next. Your free tools update from today whenever you change a date.
In danger or a medical emergency right now? Call 911. Thoughts of suicide or harming someone: call or text 988. Suspected abuse, neglect, or a scam in progress: get crisis help now.
A fall or a hospital stay
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- If there is an injury, a head strike, or new confusion, get medical care now. Call 911 in an emergency.
- At the hospital, ask each day whether your loved one is an inpatient or under observation, and write the answer down.
- Before your loved one returns home, clear walkways, add night lights, and put a grab bar or sturdy chair where needed.
- Ask the doctor whether an occupational therapist can do a home safety check.
Easy to miss
- Under observation status your loved one is an outpatient, even overnight in a hospital bed. For Original Medicare, skilled nursing facility care after a stay is covered only after three inpatient days in a row, and observation days do not count. Ask for the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice.
- Medicare Advantage plans set their own rules, so call the plan and ask before a transfer to rehab.
Use next
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
A hospital discharge with 48 hours' notice or less
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- Ask for the discharge plan in writing, including medications, follow-up visits, and equipment.
- Ask a case manager what help at home or rehab is recommended, and who will arrange it.
- Decide who will be with your loved one for the first days at home.
- If the discharge feels too soon, ask how to appeal before your loved one leaves.
Easy to miss
- Hospitals give Medicare patients a notice called An Important Message from Medicare. It explains the right to a fast appeal through the Quality Improvement Organization, and timing matters, so read it the day you get it.
- Ask whether the stay was inpatient or observation, since it can change what rehab afterward costs.
Use next
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
A new diagnosis
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- Write down your questions for the next appointment and bring a family member to take notes.
- Ask what changes to expect in the next few months and what help at home might be needed.
- Check that a power of attorney and a health care directive are in place while your loved one can take part.
Easy to miss
- Legal papers usually need your loved one to understand and sign them. Waiting can remove that choice, so talk with an elder law attorney soon.
- For memory concerns, the Alzheimer's Association helpline at 1-800-272-3900 is open around the clock.
Use next
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
A caregiver is burning out
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- Name one task someone else will take over this week, and say it out loud to the family.
- Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 and ask about respite care and caregiver support near your loved one.
- Book one break for yourself on the calendar, even a short one.
Easy to miss
- Burnout often shows up as missed medications or appointments. A short paid visit or adult day program can be safer than pushing through.
- If you feel hopeless or think about harming yourself, call or text 988 right away.
Use next
Plan that fits: Monthly Guidance plan ($29 a month), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
A facility says it cannot meet needs
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- Ask for the notice and the reason in writing, and the date they expect a change.
- Ask for a care plan meeting to talk about other options first.
- Contact the long-term care ombudsman program for your loved one's area. Their help is free.
Easy to miss
- Nursing homes generally must give advance written notice before a discharge, and residents can appeal. Assisted living rules vary by state, so read the contract and ask the ombudsman.
- Do not sign a new agreement or a discharge you disagree with before you understand your options.
Use next
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
Money is running out
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- List monthly income and care costs with real numbers.
- Use BenefitsCheckUp from the National Council on Aging, or ask the Eldercare Locator for a benefits counselor.
- If your loved one or a spouse served in the military, ask the VA about benefits for care.
Easy to miss
- Medicaid looks back at gifts and sales below fair market value. Talk with an elder law attorney before giving away or transferring any money or property, including the house.
- Ask the community or agency in writing what happens when private funds run low, and whether they accept Medicaid.
Use next
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
The timeline moved up
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- Change the target date in the downsizing planner. It recalculates from today and shows what to start now.
- Pick the three steps that must happen before the new date and who owns each one.
- Tell the family the new date so everyone plans around it.
Easy to miss
- A rushed sale can raise Medicaid and tax questions. Check the Medicaid look-back, any reverse mortgage, power of attorney, the deed and title, and vacant home insurance before you list.
- Get written estimates from transition and cleanout services, with proof of insurance.
Use next
If selling or buying a home is part of this, ask for a referral to a local real estate agent once the checks above are done.
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
A home sale fell through
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- Ask your agent what happened and what the options are now.
- If the home is empty, call the insurer and confirm the vacant home coverage.
- Check whether a next-home date or deposit depends on the sale, and talk with the lender or community.
Easy to miss
- Many homeowner policies limit coverage once a home sits empty for a while, so tell the insurer.
- A reverse mortgage usually comes due when the borrower no longer lives in the home as a main residence. Call the servicer if a sale is delayed.
Use next
If selling or buying a home is part of this, ask for a referral to a local real estate agent once the checks above are done.
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
Your loved one has died
What to do in the next 24 to 72 hours
- If the death was expected at home with hospice, call the hospice nurse. Otherwise call 911.
- Notify close family, and secure the home, vehicles, mail, and pets.
- Look for written funeral wishes and the will, and contact a funeral home.
Easy to miss
- A power of attorney ends at death. The executor or a court-appointed administrator acts for the estate from then on.
- If the home is now empty, tell the insurer and keep it secured.
- Talk with an estate attorney before paying debts or distributing property.
Use next
Plan that fits: Family Plan ($149), coming soon. Join the waitlist.
Your free tools change with you
Change the date or any entry in a free tool at any time. Dates are recalculated from today, and anything you checked off stays checked.