If you have older parents, you'll be very glad you did this. Completing this checklist now and knowing where important documents are kept will save you enormous heartache and precious time in case of an emergency. It is especially important if you are trying to help from long distance.

The checklist is also a great planning tool, for you, your parents and your siblings. It will help you understand your parents' wishes, it may remind them to get or update important documents like living wills, and it will help inventory and organize vital information. It might also prompt you to start the same kind of checklist for yourself.

At some point you're going to need all this information about your parents. It's far easier to compile it now.

You may want to complete it in a couple of sessions, rather than all at once. At a minimum you should know where key documents are filed; it's even better to have a copy on hand for yourself.

Make a separate copy of this planning checklist for each parent.

ELDER CARE PLANNING CHECKLIST