Enrichment · Life Skills

Nothing gets lost
between shifts.

When several people share the care of a parent or grandparent at home, each shift ends with the same short handoff: medicines, how they did, any fall or new pain, what is coming up and the one thing the next person must know. Falls and missed doses add up in the side panel so the pattern is easy to show the doctor.

Write a handoffWhat you get
$5one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $5

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Life skills kit, $29 for 28 items.

Shift handoffs

The worked example is a made-up family sharing care of a grandparent over two days, with a near fall and a refused dose. Handoffs save on this device only, under initials.

Loading the handoff form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · Life Skills$5

What you finish with
A handoff per shift with the date, shift and initials; each medicine with its time and whether it was given, missed, refused or held; eating, drinking, mood, a 0 to 10 pain rating, falls and sleep; appointments, supplies running low and the one thing to know; flags for falls, near falls, pain of 7 or more, missed and refused doses, low drinking and supplies; counts of falls and missed doses across shifts.
Who it is for
Family members and friends who share the care of an older adult or someone recovering at home, including teens who help.
Format
Browser log with a saved handoff per shift. Prints a handoff, every shift for the doctor or a blank form for the fridge; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$5 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Life skills kit ($29) and the Enrichment Suite pass ($119), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Life Skills space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Keep the log open on a shared device, or print blank forms for the fridge.
  2. At the end of each shift, fill in the medicines first.
  3. Note anything different from usual, in plain words.
  4. Write the one thing the next person must know.
  5. Print the whole log before a doctor’s visit.

Write a handoff

What to hand over

A good handoff covers five things1Medicineswhat was given, missed or refused, and when2Bodyeating, drinking, toileting, sleep, pain3Safetyfalls, near falls, skin4Mindmood and alertness compared with usual5Nextappointments, supplies, the one thing to knowA good handoff covers five things1Medicineswhat was given, missed or refused, and when2Bodyeating, drinking, toileting, sleep, pain3Safetyfalls, near falls, skin4Mindmood and alertness compared with usual5Nextappointments, supplies, the one thing to know
Changes from usual matter most. A person who is suddenly more confused, more tired or eating far less is telling you something.

When to call for help

Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke such as a drooping face, a weak arm or slurred speech, a fall with a possible broken bone or head injury, or anyone who cannot be woken. For a new problem that is not an emergency, call their doctor’s office or nurse line.

Falls

Falls are a leading cause of injury in older adults, and a near fall is often the warning before one. Tell their doctor about any fall, even without an injury; a review of medicines, vision and the home can lower the risk.

Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STEADI: Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries, and Older Adult Fall Prevention (cdc.gov/falls).
  2. National Institute on Aging. Caregiving and Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver (nia.nih.gov).
  3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. TeamSTEPPS: handoffs and the I-PASS approach (ahrq.gov), adapted here for family caregivers.
  4. American Stroke Association. Stroke warning signs: F.A.S.T. (stroke.org).

The worked example is made up. This log records care; it is not medical advice. Follow the prescriber’s directions and call 911 in an emergency. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.