Many unpaid carers worry about one question: what happens if I suddenly cannot be there? Illness, an accident, transport problems or another emergency can interrupt care with very little warning.
A written backup or contingency plan does not remove every risk, but it can make it easier for another trusted person or service to understand what needs to happen.
Choose one or more emergency contacts
Identify people who could respond initially if you are unavailable. Confirm that they are willing to be listed and make sure they know they are part of the plan.
Describe the support you normally provide
Write a short practical summary. Include only what someone stepping in genuinely needs to know, such as:
- how often you visit or check in;
- meal or drinking support;
- mobility assistance;
- communication needs;
- important routines;
- medicines the person needs help organising;
- scheduled carers or community services;
- appointments that cannot easily be missed.
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust recommends including emergency contacts, the support provided, medication information and relevant professional contacts in a carer emergency plan. See its emergency-plan guidance.
Keep key contacts together
Include relevant phone numbers such as the GP practice, pharmacy, care agency, social-care contact, community team or other service involved in ongoing support.
Explain access arrangements
If another person might need to enter the home, note legitimate access information such as who holds a spare key. Avoid writing a key-safe code on a document that could be found by anyone.
Keep medicine information current
Do not copy old prescription lists into the emergency plan. Link the plan to one clearly dated current medicine list instead. Our guide to organising medicines and health information explains how to maintain that record.
Include important communication or safety needs
Someone stepping in may need to know about hearing or vision difficulties, communication preferences, cognitive impairment, mobility equipment, dietary requirements or behaviours that affect safety.
Say how long the person can safely be left alone
This can be crucial in an emergency. If you are unsure, discuss it with the relevant health or social-care professional rather than inventing a safe time yourself.
Ask what local contingency support exists
NHS England describes carer contingency plans as arrangements for situations where an unpaid carer cannot continue providing the usual care. Local systems differ, so ask your council, carers organisation or relevant NHS service whether they hold formal emergency or contingency plans.
NHS England’s carer contingency-planning guidance explains why these plans matter across health and social care.
Share the plan with the people who may need it
A plan nobody knows about may not help in an emergency. With the cared-for person’s consent where relevant, make sure the nominated emergency contact knows where the current copy is kept and how it should be used.
Review it when circumstances change
Update the plan after major medicine changes, a hospital stay, a change of address, a new care agency or a significant change in the person’s needs. Review emergency contacts too.
Simple carer emergency-plan checklist
- Primary emergency contact
- Secondary contact
- Summary of usual care
- Current medicine-list location
- Important professional contacts
- Access arrangements
- Communication and mobility needs
- Meals and essential routines
- How long the person can safely be alone
- Local contingency service, if available
- Date the plan was last reviewed
This guide complements our carer’s assessment checklist, hospital discharge checklist and main Family Carers & Home Recovery pillar.
Reviewed: September 2026. General planning information only.