Support for carers

Create an emergency plan

You should create an emergency plan for yourself and those you look after.

Having a plan in place for personal emergencies gives you peace of mind for you, the person you're caring for and other family or friends.

Having a plan means the person you're caring for will be involved in planning arrangements, so everyone knows what to do, and there is an agreement about what to do in an emergency e.g. who can be contacted.

What to include in your emergency plan

Some of the things you should include in your emergency plan are:

• details of the person you look after
• who you and the person you look after would like to be contacted in an emergency - this could be friends, family or professionals
• details of any medication the person you look after is taking and where it is stored
• information about any ongoing treatments they need
• details of any allergies
• details of their GP and pharmacy

For more information about creating an emergency plan, see Carers UK: Planning for emergencies.

Getting legal information online

If you want to plan for the future for yourself and the person you care for, get information about making a wills and lasting power of attorney online.

Getting the information online means you will not get any expensive legal fees.

• The Mental Capacity Act 2005
  A law that covers people in England and Wales who can't make some or all decisions for themselves. It covers anyone over the age of 16 and sets out who can make decisions in which situations, and how they should go about it. For further information visit Mind.
• Lasting power of attorney (LPA)
  A legal tool where you can appoint someone to make certain decisions on their behalf, if they can't make a decision for themselves. 
• Appointee for someone claiming benefits
  You can apply for the right to deal with someone's benefits if they can't manage them on their own because they're mentally incapable or severely disabled.
• Make a will
  It is important you make a will as a will lets you decide what happens to your money and possessions after your death.

Where you can get help

• Office of the Public Guardian : To make a lasting power of attorney (LPA)
• Citizens Advice: Free information about making a will
• Age Concern Tyneside South (ACTS): Information and advice on arranging a lasting power of attorney or wills
• Mencap: Specialist advice about legal matters for people with learning disabilities