Emergency Carer Schemes

Emergency Carer Schemes provide carers with the reassurance that, should they be involved in an accident or emergency whilst out alone, the person they care for will receive co-ordinated assistance immediately.

Emergency Carer Schemes give carers peace of mind if something happens to them that stops them returning home. Many carers also feel less anxious and have more freedom.

The sort of help available might include:

Emergency social work duty team
Emergency respite and sitting services
Community alarms/panic buttons

To join a local scheme you need to register the details of the person you care for and provide information about who should be contacted in the case of an emergency. This information will be held by the local authority and will only be used in an emergency situation.

You will then be given a credit-sized card to keep with you, which will include a telephone number to ring in an emergency. The card will also have a unique reference number, for people to quote when contacting the scheme operators.

There are many similar schemes operating throughout the UK, so contact your social services department via your local council or local carers group to find out about the schemes in your area.