A free caregiver daily log template
Updated October 2026
When more than one person looks after a parent, the hard part is the handover. Siblings take turns, a neighbor drops in, a paid aide comes for the afternoon, and each one only knows their own part of the day.
A daily log fixes that. One sheet per day, filled in by whoever is there, so the next person knows what was given, what was eaten and what to watch for.
What to record each day
- The date, who was there, and when they arrived and left
- Each medicine given, the time, and the initials of whoever gave it
- Meals and drinks, and roughly how much was eaten
- Personal care: washing, dressing, toileting, teeth
- Activity: a walk, an outing, a nap
- How they seemed: mood, sleep, pain, confusion
- Anything the next person needs to know: a fall, a new symptom, supplies running low
Using it with paid caregivers
If you pay for home care, ask the aide to fill in the log at each visit. It's the simplest way to see whether the tasks and hours you pay for are being done, without having to be there.
Compare the logs with the care plan every week or two. If something keeps getting missed, raise it with the agency calmly and with dates. A pattern written down is much easier to discuss than a feeling.
Keep it where everyone will see it
- On a clipboard on the fridge or by the front door
- With a pen tied to it, so nobody has an excuse
- A photo of the sheet sent to the family group chat at the end of the day
- Last week's sheets in a folder, so patterns are easy to spot
What the logs are good for later
Doctors often ask questions only a log can answer: is she eating less, is he sleeping more, how often is the confusion happening. Bring the last few weeks of logs to appointments.
Big events, like a fall or an ER visit, belong in the daily log on the day and also in a separate health events list, so they're easy to find months later.
Questions
How long should we keep the logs?
A few months is usually enough to show patterns. Keep the pages with anything notable, like falls or medicine problems, for longer.
What if my parent doesn't want to be written about?
Explain that it's so everyone helping gives the same care and nothing gets missed. Let them see it, and keep it practical rather than personal.
Can we keep the log on a phone instead?
Yes, as long as everyone uses the same shared note or document. Paper on the fridge is often easier for visitors and paid aides, and a photo at the end of the day shares it with the family.
This guide is general information for families, not medical or legal advice. Always confirm medicines with the pharmacist or doctor.