Home for the Holidays

Going home for the holidays? Know what to look for, and what to do next.

The Family Check-In Kit helps you see how Mom and Dad are really doing, talk about it without a fight, and leave with a plan the whole family shares.

  • A room-by-room visit checklist (42 things to notice)
  • 25 word-for-word scripts for the hard conversations
  • A sibling meeting plan, a vital info organizer and a 30-day plan
Get the Kit, from $27

Instant download · Fillable PDF + shared spreadsheet · 14-day money-back guarantee

Why this kit exists

Phone calls sound fine. A few days at home tell you the truth.

On the phone, Mom says she's great. Dad says the house is no trouble. Then you spend a few days under their roof, and you start to notice things.

The fridgeExpired food, or three open cartons of milk.
The mailA pile of unopened envelopes, a "final notice", lots of sweepstakes letters.
The carA new scrape on the bumper that nobody mentions.

Many families first notice changes during the holidays. Then comes the hard part: what does it mean, how do you bring it up, and what do you actually do?

If you've ever lain awake after a visit thinking something like this, you're not alone:

Am I overreacting or underreacting? How do I bring this up without hurting her? And why does it feel like I'm the only one who has to figure this out?

You're not alone. About 63 million Americans are family caregivers (AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025), and millions more in the UK, Canada and Australia. Most of them started exactly where you are now: worried, unsure, and without a plan.

This kit is the plan. It's practical, calm and respectful of your parent, so they stay part of every decision.

What's inside

7 practical modules, a 53-page fillable PDF, and 1 shared family spreadsheet

Visit Checklist page
Module 1

The Visit Checklist

42 things to notice, room by room: kitchen, mail and money, medications, mobility, home safety, memory and mood, driving and personal care. Each one shows what it may point to and a gentle next step, plus the signs that mean "act today".

Conversation scripts page
Module 2

The Conversation Playbook

5 rules, 6 openers and 25 word-for-word scripts for the hard topics: check-ups, help at home, driving, money and scams, power of attorney, moving, and what to say when they push back.

Responsibility Splitter page
Module 3

The Sibling Summit Kit

A 45-minute family meeting agenda, a fair way to split the load (even for siblings who live far away), how to talk about money, and 8 copy-paste messages.

Where documents are page
Module 4

Parent's Vital Info Organizer

Who to call, doctors and care team, a medication list, insurance, and where every important document is kept: will, power of attorney, and 15 more. Contacts and locations only, never passwords.

Levels of help page
Module 5

Care Options Navigator

The 8 levels of help, from a grab bar to full-time care. Includes a "which level fits?" guide, a plain-English overview of who pays (US, UK, Canada and Australia), a cost worksheet, and questions to ask providers.

30-day plan page
Modules 6 & 7

30-Day Plan + Resources by Country

A week-by-week plan so nothing stalls once everyone flies home, plus official help lines and first stops for the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

Family Care Planner spreadsheet
Bonus spreadsheet

The Family Care Planner (Google Sheets or Excel)

Share it with your siblings. It includes a Responsibility Splitter that counts tasks per person, a Shared Cost Tracker that shows who owes whom, a Care Cost Calculator and a Medication List.

How it works

Before, during and after the visit

Before you go
  • Skim the checklist so you know what to notice
  • Read the 5 conversation rules
  • Text your siblings to book a call afterward
During the visit
  • Observe quietly while you help around the house
  • Pick one calm moment for one conversation
  • Fill in the organizer together
After you leave
  • Run the 45-minute Sibling Summit
  • Pick just enough help
  • Follow the 30-day plan

This kit is for you if…

  • You're visiting aging parents and want to know what to look for
  • You've noticed changes and don't know how to bring them up
  • You and your siblings need a fair, shared plan
  • You live far away and want to help properly
  • You'd rather plan early than scramble in a crisis

It's not for you if…

  • You need medical, legal or financial advice. Please speak to a professional.
  • There's an emergency right now. Call your local emergency number.
  • You want a long book to read. This is a practical, fill-in-and-use toolkit.
Get the kit

Start your family's plan today

Download instantly, print it or type into it, and share the spreadsheet with your family in minutes.

Essentials

The full kit
$27 one-time
  • The Family Check-In Kit: 7 modules, 53 fillable pages
  • Family Care Planner spreadsheet
  • US · UK · Canada · Australia resources
  • Free updates to this edition
Get Essentials ($27)
Most families choose

Complete

Essentials + 2 add-ons ($55 if bought separately)
$39 one-time
  • Everything in Essentials
  • Hospital Go-Bag & ER Handoff Kit: the one-page sheet ER staff need, go-bag checklists, and a discharge checklist
  • Senior Living Tour Scorecard & Cost Comparison: 3 scorecards, 30 questions for the director, and a 3-year cost spreadsheet
Get Complete ($39)
14
14-day money-back guarantee. If the kit doesn't help your family, email us within 14 days and tell us briefly what didn't work for you, and we'll refund you in full.

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I get?

A 53-page fillable PDF (7 modules) and the Family Care Planner spreadsheet, which works in Google Sheets and Excel. Complete also includes two more PDFs and a cost-comparison spreadsheet. Everything downloads instantly after purchase, and a link is emailed to you too.

Can I type into it, or do I have to print it?

Both. Every line, box and checkbox is fillable in free Adobe Acrobat Reader, Mac Preview and most browsers. The inner pages are white and printer-friendly if you prefer paper.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes. You can read the checklist and scripts on your phone during the visit. For filling in forms, a computer or tablet is easier.

I'm in the UK, Canada or Australia. Will it fit?

Yes. The checklist, scripts, sibling plan and organizer work anywhere. Module 7 has official resources for the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and the money sections explain the main differences between countries.

Is this medical or legal advice?

No. It's an organization and communication toolkit for families. It helps you notice, talk, plan and ask good questions. Health concerns should go to your parent's doctor, and legal or money decisions to a qualified professional where you live.

Can my siblings use it too?

Yes. Your purchase covers your immediate family. Share the spreadsheet so everyone sees the same plan, and print extra copies of any page you need.

My parent doesn't think anything is wrong. Will this still help?

That's very common, and it's exactly what the Conversation Playbook is for. It includes scripts for when they say "I'm fine", when they refuse help, and when memory changes mean they don't see the problem.

What if it isn't right for us?

Email us within 14 days and tell us briefly what didn't work for your family, and we'll refund you in full.

How do I get the files?

Right after checkout you'll see download buttons, and you'll get an email with your receipt and download links. Can't find it? Check spam, or contact us.

You don't have to fix everything this visit. You just have to start.

Give your family a calm, shared plan, and give your parent the chance to be part of it.

Get the Family Check-In Kit
Get the Kit, from $27