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One of the biggest worries for family carers is what will happen to the person they care for if they are in an accident or suddenly take ill. The Family Carers Ireland FREE Emergency Scheme can put your mind at rest with access to a 24/7 emergency helpline.
Joining the scheme will ensure that the person you care for will continue to receive the support they need during a time of crisis and from people you trust.
Emergency situations include:
It is also important to let the person you care for know, where possible, what the Emergency Scheme is about. In collaboration with our colleagues in The Sensory Space, we have developed a Social Story, aimed at educating young adults with disabilities and/or Autism on how the scheme works. You can download this Social Story here.
Complete the Emergency Care Plan for the person you support. You can fill out the emergency care plan online by clicking here, you can download the care plan below or receive a printed copy by post by contacting us at emergencyscheme@familycarers.ie or via our National Freephone Careline on 1800 24 07 24. Please note that if you are caring for more than one person, you will need to complete an emergency care plan for each person.
Nominate two people (e.g. family members, friends or neighbours) who agree to step into your caring role if you are in an accident or emergency. This is an important part of the scheme. Include their details on the plan together with details of agencies or services involved in supporting the person you care for.
Return the plan to us by completing the online form. Alternatively, you can send the completed plan to us by post or email to emergencyscheme@familycarers.ie and we will send you out an Emergency Card. Please carry the card with you and if something happens, the Emergency Services or a member of the public can call the dedicated 24/7 Freephone Emergency Helpline.
When we receive a call, we contact the people you have nominated. We ask them to step into your caring role and we share the Emergency Care Plan with them. If they are unavailable, we link with any agencies or services you have listed. If we cannot agree a plan at this point, or if it’s outside of normal hours we contact the Emergency Services or mobilise our *partners from The Irish Red Cross, Order of Malta or a National Ambulance Service Community First Responder. A plan for the next 72 hours is then agreed.
*Particpating Partners: An Garda Síochána, National Ambulance Service, Irish Red Cross & Order of Malta.
The information in your Emergency Care Plan is held securely and is only shared with the people you have given us permission to share it with.
Funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2019-2022. The Scheme to Support National Organisations is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Rural and Community Development.
