Care Circle Planner

When a parent misses a call, the worst outcome is not panic; it is everyone assuming someone else is handling it. A care circle plan settles that in advance. It lists the people who look out for one person, in the order they act, with how quickly each can get there and whether they have a key. This free planner turns that into a one-page plan you can print and share.

Who it is for

It is for siblings sharing the care of a parent, families spread across different cities, and anyone who lives alone and wants their friends and neighbors on the same page. It works just as well for a circle of two as for a circle of five.

How to use it

1. Add up to five people. For each, enter their relationship, phone, how long it takes them to get there and whether they have a key.
2. Use the Up and Down buttons to put them in the order they should act. The closest person with a key is often the right first choice.
3. Add notes the whole family should know, such as nap times or a landline number.
4. Press "Make our plan", print it, and send a copy to everyone on it.

Your plan stays in this browser. You can tick a box to remember it here, and nothing is sent anywhere. In the TapOkay app, a missed daily check-in alerts the family members you picked, with the last location. The app does not decide who goes first; this plan does. See the family dashboard and our guide to siblings sharing the care of an elderly parent.

Review the plan whenever someone moves, changes jobs or hands back a key. Even a short family message that says “the plan is still right” once a year keeps everyone confident about their role.