Emergency planning
Being organised and ensuring that if anything happens to you, the person you care for will continue to get the care they need. You can do this by organising an emergency plan.
Emergency Plan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Emergency Plan?
An Emergency Plan is a written document which lets people know what needs to be done to support the person you care for if you are unable to carry out your caring role at short notice - for example if you are being admitted to hospital or you have a personal incident or accident. An Emergency Plan is sometimes also called a future plan.
Why is an Emergency Plan important?
Having an Emergency Plan can help to prevent an emergency becoming a crisis. An Emergency Plan makes sure that all the information and knowledge you carry in your head about the person you care for is written down. This can be shared in an emergency, in order to help support that person. Completing an Emergency Plan can give you peace of mind and help you feel reassured about what would happen in the event of an emergency.
Who should I involve in the Emergency Plan?
Completing an Emergency Plan can help you to have conversations with your friends and family members about your caring role and provide the opportunity to check if and how they can help in an emergency. Where possible, it is important to discuss the Emergency Plan with the person you care for to find out their views and wishes.
What can I include in an Emergency Plan?
Think about all the care and support that you provide - it can help to think about a typical day. If your caring situation changes a lot over time, think about what a good day and a bad day looks like. Emergency plans need to include details about the care and support you provide to the person as well as emergency contacts, health needs and preferred routines. It's also important to think about who needs to have a copy of the plan.
How do I find out more about making an Emergency Plan?
If you would like more information about an Adult Carer Support Plan and about making an Emergency Plan, please contact PKAVS by calling 01738 567076 or visit the Carer's Hub website at www.pkavscarershub.org.uk
Emergency Carers Card
Emergency Planning is important when someone depends on you, so that if anything happens to you they will get the support they need.
This card could give you the peace of mind and reassurance that the person who depends on you will be safe, if something unexpected happens to you.
To apply, complete our Emergency Carer's Card application form.
If you need help to apply, contact PKAVS on AdultCarersAdmin@pkavs.org.uk or phone 01738 567076 or email CarerSupport@pkc.gov.uk.
Hospital admittance
If the person you care for, this can be a worrying time for you. Watch our short video below for advice on what to do when they are discharged and how you can be involved.
Hospital to Home - Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to be involved in discharge planning?
Being involved means you can get information about when and how the discharge from hospital will happen. This lets you prepare and helps ensure the person you care for has support to help them at home following discharge. It also means you can inform staff about how things are at home and gives you the chance to ask any questions, eg about medication or plans for follow-up appointments.
When should I be involved?
As early as possible. When the person you care for is admitted to hospital, speak to staff on the ward and make them aware you are the carer. Tell them how they can contact you, this is especially important if you are not the next of kin. Hospital staff may not realise that you are the carer, so it can really help them if you let them know.
What can I do?
You need to talk to the person you care for and check they are happy for you to discuss their care and discharge planning with hospital staff. This is important because staff must respect individual confidentiality and cannot discuss their patient with you if they don't have permission.
Without permission, it can still be helpful to speak with hospital staff about the general condition of the person you care for and share with them any information you feel is important. If there are significant changes for the person you care for, they may need additional support to manage at home when they leave hospital. You need to think about how this will impact on you as a carer.
Who will be involved in hospital discharge?
The hospital has a duty to involve you in the planning of the discharge of the person you care for. If their needs have changed, there will be a conversation with you, in person or over the telephone, about what help and support the individual you care for needs to help them live safely and to get your views about the discharge. Let hospital staff know what you are able and willing to do.
Occasionally a discharge planning meeting may be arranged. This is also known as a multidisciplinary meeting. A variety of staff involved with the person you care for may attend the meeting. As the person's carer the hospital has a duty to involve you in hospital discharge planning, which may include attendance at this meeting.
Even if an individual's care needs have not changed, as their carer, you should still be involved. Hospital staff have a duty for you to be involved in discharge planning. This may be a discussion in person or over the telephone to arrange the details of when and how the discharge will take place.
Where can I find out more?
You can ask ward staff about local arrangements for hospital discharge.
If the person you care for has a social worker, you can discuss hospital discharge with them.
If you are not in touch with services, you can contact PKAVS by calling 01738 567076 or visit the Carer's Hub.
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