Use a notebook to communicate with caregivers.

Notebooks provide a great way to communicate back and forth with your parent's caregivers and to identify patterns and changes in his condition. This is a place for you, your parent (if he's able), and his caregivers to exchange information including reminders, questions, and actions taken (such as feeding him lunch or giving medicines). You can also record developments such as a new medicine's positive effects or a glum afternoon mood.

Date and time each entry so you know what happened when, and make sure everyone checks the notebook at the start of a new shift. Keep the notebook casual yet informative -- some caregivers may be self-conscious if they think they're expected to write in perfect grammar or impeccable handwriting. A plain lined notebook works fine.