Carers in touch

Most carers worry about what will happen if they are unable to care due to an emergency situation. If a carer is suddenly taken ill and is taken to hospital, it’s vital that replacement care can be put in place straight away. Carers UK suggests that all carers should create an emergency plan so that replacement care can be quickly arranged, should the need arise.

Having a plan in place will give you – and the person for whom you care – peace of mind. Planning for an unexpected situation is something that people often put off doing but it’s worth spending a little

time planning for something you hope will never happen!

In order to create an emergency plan, you will need to consider:

✔ Details of the name and address and any other contact details of the person you look after

✔ The names and contact details of who you would like to be contacted in the event of an emergency

✔ Details of medication taken by the person you look after

✔ Details of any on-going treatment they’re having

You may be able to arrange help and support through a family member or friend, but it’s also a good idea to have professional back-up in case informal arrangements fail. One way to do this is to ask your local Social Services department for an assessment of your needs and the needs of the person for whom you care. The assessment should include emergency planning.

Some areas of the country have emergency carer card schemes. These are often arranged through local councils, carers’ trusts or carers’ centres. Emergency plans are drawn up with the help of a trained person and details are held by the scheme which runs a 24-hour emergency response service.

Carers carry a card with the scheme’s telephone number. In the event of an emergency you, or someone with you, would call the scheme and the operator would be able to put your pre-arranged care plan into place.