Getting Started as a Caregiver

Version: 0.1.1 | Last Updated: 2026-01-07

Welcome, Caregiver

Helping a loved one manage their medications is one of the most important things you can do for their health. CareForMeds gives you the tools to stay connected and informed, whether you're down the hall or across the country.

You're not alone in this. We're here to help.

What You Can Do as a Caregiver

• See your loved one's medications at a glance
• Get notified when doses are missed
• Monitor adherence over time
• Help with refills before they run out
• Coordinate with other family members sharing care duties

Getting Connected

If You Were Invited

1. Check your email for an invitation from CareForMeds
2. Click the Accept Invitation link
3. Create your account (or sign in if you have one)
4. You'll be connected to your loved one's care team

If You Need to Request Access

1. Sign up for a CareForMeds account
2. Go to Settings > Care Connections
3. Click Request to be a Caregiver
4. Enter your loved one's email address
5. They'll receive a request to approve your access

Understanding Your Role

As a caregiver, you can:

• ✅ View medications and schedules
• ✅ See dose logs and adherence
• ✅ Receive alerts for missed doses
• ✅ Help with logging doses
• ✅ Submit refill requests

You cannot:

• ❌ Change their password or security settings
• ❌ Delete their account
• ❌ Add or remove other caregivers (only they can do this)

Your First Day

Step 1: Explore the Dashboard

Your caregiver dashboard shows:

• All patients you're helping (you may have more than one)
• Today's doses for each person
• Adherence scores
• Recent alerts

Step 2: Review Medications

Click on your loved one's profile to see:

• All their medications
• Dosing schedules
• Current inventory
• Recent dose history

Step 3: Set Up Your Notifications

Don't miss important alerts:

1. Go to Settings > Notifications
2. Enable alerts for:
   • Missed doses
   • Low adherence warnings
   • Refill reminders
3. Choose how to receive them (push, email, or both)

Step 4: Understand Their Routine

Spend some time learning:

• What medications do they take?
• What times are scheduled?
• Which medications are most critical?
• What's their current adherence?

Communicating with Your Loved One

Tips for a supportive approach:

• Lead with care, not criticism — "I noticed you missed a dose. Is everything okay?"
• Respect their autonomy — They're still in charge of their health
• Celebrate wins — "Great adherence this week!"
• Be patient — Change takes time

Coordinating with Other Caregivers

If multiple family members are helping:

1. Discuss who handles what (refill calls, appointment rides, etc.)
2. Use CareForMeds notes to leave updates
3. Check the dashboard before calling to avoid redundant check-ins
4. Share responsibilities based on location and availability

When You're Far Away

Long-distance caregiving is hard, but CareForMeds helps:

• Check the dashboard daily to see if doses are logged
• Set up alerts for missed doses
• Use video calls to do medication reviews together
• Coordinate with local family or professional caregivers

Getting More Help

• Help Center — Click the ? icon
• Support — help@careformeds.com
• Caregiver Resources — careformeds.com/resources

You're Making a Difference

Taking on caregiver responsibilities is an act of love. It's not always easy, but knowing your loved one's medications are being managed brings peace of mind to everyone.

Thank you for being there.

Next Steps

• Family Dashboard — Learn the caregiver interface
• Managing Loved Ones — Daily care tasks
• Best Practices — Tips from experienced caregivers