What's happening right now?
Pick the closest match. The right next steps look very different across these situations, so it's worth ten seconds to land in the right one.
They want to send your parent home and you don't think it's safe. Use the unsafe-discharge script.
Something shifted in the last day or two. Often a UTI or another acute medical issue masquerading as decline.
Left the house, got lost, exit-seeking, or recent sundowning at the door. Stop the bleeding tonight, harden the house this week.
Burnout, no sleep, your own health failing. Real options exist for emergency respite. You are not the only line of defense.
Could be a paid caregiver, a family member, a facility, or a stranger. Different reporting paths for home vs facility.
If your parent is in immediate medical danger, call 911. If you are in crisis yourself, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.