Sudden unexpected events or emergencies can be scary and stressful, and most of us simply hope they never happen. Having a plan in place can make a real difference.

Making a plan can:

• encourage you and the person you care for to think about what you both want to happen if you are suddenly unable to provide the care you normally provide due to an emergency

• help identify people who will step in at short notice (emergency contacts)

• provide important information that will help someone to take over caring.

• give you and the person you care for peace of mind

Below are some ways carers and the people they care for can think about and plan for emergencies, so you can pick what is right for you.

The Carers Leeds Emergency Card is free of charge and is designed to be kept with you at all times, for example in a wallet, phone case or on a key ring. In an emergency you can show someone the card so that they know that someone relies on you.

The card will include contact details of someone that you have spoken to and who has agreed to step in and take over caring for the person you care for. This will usually be a family member or friend.

You can apply for a Carers Leeds Emergency Card by completing the form below. You can also call our Advice Line on 0113 380 4300 and we can get one sent to you.

A Carers Emergency Plan is a document that includes information about you and the person you care for, as well as contact details for family or friends who have agreed to step in. The plan can be useful instead, or in addition to the emergency card, where you might need to include other important information that will help someone else take over caring in an emergency.

You should keep a copy of the plan in a safe place and make sure that you tell anyone who needs to know, where it is kept, for example people who have agreed that they can be contacted to take over caring, care agencies etc.

You can write your emergency plan in any way you want. To help, in partnership with others, we have designed a Carers Emergency Plan template that you can use.

You can get a printed copy of the template by phoning the Carers Leeds Advice Line on 0113 380 4300.

The main benefit of registering your Carers Emergency Plan with Leeds Telecare is that in the event of an emergency, Leeds Telecare will coordinate emergency care. Details of how to register your plan with Leeds Telecare are included on the plan itself.

Once your plan is registered, Leeds Telecare will send you welcome pack that will include a Carers Emergency Card, a unique reference number, and stickers which can be stuck to the inside of a door or on the fridge to alert emergency services that you are a carer.

If Leeds Telecare receive an emergency call, they will be able to look up your emergency plan and will aim to have emergency care in place as soon as possible.  This will include contacting any family or friends recorded in your plan.  If this is not possible, Leeds Telecare will contact either the NHS or Adult Social Care services to arrange emergency care.

Lions Association Message in a Bottle

The Lions Association ‘Message in a Bottle’ is a simple way for you to keep personal and medical details where they can be found in an emergency. For example, it can help emergency services save valuable time identifying an individual and whether they have allergies or take special medication.

Jointly App

You can create your own Carers Emergency Plan using the Jointly App. Jointly has been developed by Carers UK to make the coordination of caring easier by combining group messaging, to-do lists and other useful features, including medication lists, calendar, and key contacts.

Mobilise

The Mobilise website includes a range of online support for carers, including advice on completing a carers emergency plan.