Use this checklist before making a decision

Recognize safety concerns, document facts, find reporting routes, understand rights, and avoid escalating danger through poorly planned intervention. A checklist cannot decide an individual case, but it can prevent missed questions, missing records, and avoidable deadlines.

Decision checklist

  • Identify whether there is immediate danger, urgent medical need, missing medication, unsafe living conditions, or threatened retaliation.
  • Record specific observations, dates, statements, injuries, transactions, and witnesses without altering evidence.
  • Use a safe phone or device when the suspected abuser monitors communications.
  • Contact the correct reporting or advocacy agency for the setting and jurisdiction.
  • Protect finances and identification when safe to do so.
  • Seek legal advice before changing guardianship, power of attorney, residence, or access to funds.

Information to write down

  • The exact program, provider, company, service, product, or legal document involved.
  • The person’s state, county, ZIP code, coverage, deadlines, accessibility needs, and preferred contact method.
  • Names, dates, confirmation numbers, written notices, estimates, contracts, and appeal instructions.
  • The original source used to verify each important claim.

Questions to ask

  • Which rule or program applies to this exact situation?
  • What is the deadline, and what proves that the request was received?
  • What costs are excluded from the quoted amount?
  • What changes by state, plan, provider, or household?
  • Is there an appeal, grievance, correction, or second-review process?
  • Where is the answer published by the responsible agency?

Official sources

Related information

Within this subject: Updates and Official Changes, Official Help and Trusted Starting Points, Common Mistakes and Warning Signs, State-by-State Differences.

Also review: Scams, Identity Theft, Robocalls, and Financial Exploitation, Long-Term Care, Home Care, Hospice, and Facility Quality, Advance Directives, Hospice, Funeral, and Estate Planning.

Last reviewed

This checklist was reviewed on 2026-07-30. Verify current rules before acting.