Emergency support and safeguarding for carers

From time to time, we encounter situations that we perhaps don't expect.  If you are the main carer for someone, when such difficulties happen, not only do you have to think about yourself, you also need to think about them.

If you are the victim of abuse or are worried that you may have caused harm to someone you are caring for, you must speak up and ask for help.

If you are unable to look after the person that you normally care for due to an illness or emergency, it's important to have an emergency plan in place.  Improving Lives Plymouth have a Carers Emergency Plan document that includes information about you and the person you care for, as well as the contact details for family or friends who have agreed that they can be contacted to take over caring. The plan should also include important information that will help them or 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 agencies. 

Remember, if you are struggling, you are not alone. There is no shame in asking for help. Everyone needs a little bit of extra support at some point in their lives.