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Greenwich Carers Centre has established a successful arrangement with the local Telecare service to offer carers an emergency back up service - using a carers emergency card model but with 24 hour cover and the option of having telecare staff visit in the event that the nominated contacts are unavailable. Carers are also able to leave a key with this service in case of emergency.
For more information contact sally.brenchley@Greenwichcarerscentre.org
Carers UK's successful Back Me Up camapign highlighted the value of emergency card schemes whereby carers register with a 24-hour response service which puts in place alternative care for the cared for person if anything happens to the carer.
Torbay's newly launched Safely Home Scheme goes one step further than most emergency card schemes and provides an additional emergency service for carers of people with dementia. Called 'Safely Home', It is linked to the carers emergency card scheme and can help return home a confused person found wandering in a public place. Its part of the jigsaw of back up support. For more information about the scheme contact Torbay Care Trust.
Our Equal Partners briefing on emergencies give more examples of action you can take- more....
In the Isle of Wight, carers carry a carer identification card card, which includes If they have an accident or are taken ill, the card idenfiies an emegency call centre phone number if the carer is taken ill. The call centre will have all the necessary details to enable help to be sent to the cared-for person.
There is also a card available for ‘cared for’ people working on the same principle. This is particularly useful for people with memory problems and learning disabilities.There is no charge for the scheme; it’s paid for out of the Carers Grant through the Isle of Wight Social Services.
Rochdale Primary Care Trust have commissioned a private sector company, Tunstall, to provide a call centre service for their emergency scheme. The scheme is promoted through local carers’ centres and co-coordinated by a hospital Patient Advocacy Liaison Service (PALS) officer. This partnership involves health and social services, the voluntary and private sector all working together to provide a lifeline to carers.
In Hounslow, all new carers are provided with a pack which includes a laminated list of contact numbers
tailored to individuals (e.g. carers of older people, people with learning disabilities). The cards include contact numbers for relevant support organisations and help lines, and are designed to be kept by the phone in case carers
need emergency help. Carers developed the packs themselves and chose which numbers they wanted
included. The feedback has shown that carers find them a very useful resource, and the council are looking into
other options, for example, emergency alert bracelets.
Belfast: emergency teams
North Belfast operates a 24-hour helpline for carers of people affected by dementia, staffed by professionals. An
Emergency Crisis Team includes social workers and a Care Manager who can be contacted out-of-hours. The Care Manager can arrange emergency replacement care to avoid the person having to go into hospital. The contact
numbers are widely available, for example, in GP surgeries.
Page Last Modified: 21/08/2008
