CaringBridge is a free, personalized websites

CaringBridge is a free, personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during
critical illness, treatment and recovery.
The CaringBridge website helps keep loved ones informed during difficult times. In
return, family and friends give patient and caregiver support through guestbook
messages.
Every free, personalized CaringBridge website includes:
 Patient care journal to update family and friends
 Guestbook for messages of love
 Photo gallery
 Free online support for using the service
Directions on how to get CaringBridge started.
Step 1: Go to www.caringbridge.org
Step 2: Click Start Here
Step 3: Fill out the form. The first set of boxes is the author information. This whole
column deals with the author information.
Only check this box if you the
author is also the patient.
Step 4: Fill out the patient information. If you (the author) is the patient check the box
titled (Site is for myself), and it will fill out the information for you. If the patient is not
the author leave the box unchecked and fill out the rest of the information.
Step 5: Create an author sign in with an e-mail address and password. We recommend
you write this down.
Step 6: Read Terms of Use by clicking the blue “Terms of Use” link. This will pop up a
new window. Once you are done reading the terms you can exit the terms of use page,
just leaving your create a caring bridge page up.
Step 7: Click the “I accept dot”. Then hit next.
Step 8: After clicking next it will bring up the following page. Notice that it gives you
your new web address. We recommend you write this information down.
Step 9: Fill out the hospital information.
Step 10: The title of your page will automatically be named the patients name. If you
would like it to say something different type it here.
Step 11: Choose a template for your web page. There will be different options you can
choose from, for example for a newborn page there are three different templates. The
options will change depending on the age of the patient.
Step 12: Click Next
Choose templates.
Step 13: Choose your privacy level. Open- will let anyone look at your site if they have
web address. Visitor Sign in Required- This setting will require users to set up an e-mail
address and password, before they can continue on to your site, with this setting you can
also set an approved list of those who can visit and/or block those you know you don’t
want to see (you would need to know their email address). If the users email address is
not on your safe or blocked and they want to view the site it will send you a request if
you want it to.
Step 14: If you choose to have an approved visitor list you need to set that list up now.
Click “Create Approved Visitors List”
Step 15: It will bring up this page. Follow the directions by typing in the approved e-mail
addresses. Then click save.
Step 16: You can protect your site even further by requiring a password to get on the site
even after a person is registered. We recommend the highest level of privacy by using
the Visitor Sign-In Required and also password protection. Type a password here for
viewers to access the site (choose a different password than your user password). Those
who tell about the site will need to know the password to access your information. We
again encourage you to write down this information.
Step 17: Click Save
Step 18: Now it will bring up your page.
Step 19: There are different sections of the site. Up at the top of the page there are links
do the different parts of the site.
Step 20: Set up “My Story” Click the link. Next click update my story. It will then
bring up a screen where you
type the main point, diagnosis,
etc. There are two parts, an introduction and full story.
After you have finished typing click save.
Step 21: Back at the main page again. You will see journal up at the top next to my
story. This is the section where you can post weekly, daily, or hourly updates. Click
Journal. Next click update journal.
Step 22: Here is where you type new posts and are able to manage old ones. Click save
when finished. Your comments will be posted immediately and added do your journal.
Step 23: The Guestbook tab is for those who visit the site and want to leave you and/or
the patient a message.
Step 24: The Photos tab is where you can upload pictures of the recent happenings. Click
the photo tab from the main page. It will bring you to the photo page. Click “Add New
Photos”
Step 25: You can then upload photos from your computer. Click browse to find you
pictures. Only 3 pictures can be loaded at one time, but that doesn’t mean you can only
have three pictures. Once the file location is found Click Upload.
Step 26: Once uploaded your pictures will appear in your photo gallery. If you would
like one of the pictures to be on your welcome page then simple click below the picture
“Welcome Page”
Step 27: Those are most of the places you will need to visit. You can also edit your site
information: change privacy, change passwords, etc. under the site setting tab.
Step 28: When you are done, log out of the site.
Step 29: To log back in go to www.caringbridge.org Click “Author Sign In”
Step 30: Type in the site name and your password. Click” Sign In”
Then you will be back at your
page.