Household continuity
Continuity is whether the household keeps functioning when the person who normally handles something is not available.
Why it matters
- Most households concentrate critical knowledge in one person: bills, passwords, medical history, school logistics.
- A short absence becomes a crisis when nobody else knows where things are.
- Continuity gaps are cheap to fix and rarely get attention until they matter.
What we measure
- Another adult can access accounts and pay essential bills
- Passwords and key documents are findable without one specific person
- Someone else knows medications, providers, and care routines
- Backup care exists for children, older relatives, or pets
- Recurring obligations would not silently lapse
Practical steps
Write a one-page household operations sheet
Essential bills, due dates, account locations, and who to contact.
Use a shared password manager
Emergency access for a second adult removes the single biggest continuity gap.
Name a backup for care duties
Confirm the person has agreed and knows the routine.
Do a two-week test
Ask whether the household could run for two weeks without you, then fix the first thing that breaks.
Common questions
What is household continuity planning?
It is documenting and sharing the knowledge and access needed to keep a household running if one person is unavailable due to illness, travel, or emergency.
Where should household documents be kept?
In one known place, with a second copy that survives a fire or flood, and access for at least one other trusted adult.
Score your household
The five-minute check gives you a score for this dimension and a tailored action list.
Take the Household Resilience Check →