Emergency care plan

As an informal caregiver, you cannot always keep doing everything yourself. Then it helps to write down in advance what needs to happen, who can take over what, and where important papers are kept. Such an emergency care plan gives peace of mind if something suddenly goes wrong. It often makes the first few hours just a little more manageable.

What is an emergency plan for caregiving?

An emergency plan shows how care at home will continue if you are no longer able to provide it. It describes whom you notify, what needs to happen each day, and what your loved one can do independently. Fixed care times, aids, medications, and routines also get a place in it.

Discuss the plan together with your loved one and the involved care provider. That keeps it clear who does what. An emergency plan does not replace a medical treatment plan, but it does help when regular arrangements suddenly fall away.

What do you include in an emergency plan?

At the very least, include contact persons, medications, fixed care times, aids, routines, and what your loved one can still do independently. That way, someone else can take over more quickly if needed.

Who do you include in the plan when help is needed?

Note the people who can be reached quickly. Think of important contact persons and involved care providers. The general practitioner can also help as a fixed place where you register caregiving.

If there are multiple care providers, it helps to agree on one clear point of contact. That could, for example, be the general practitioner, district nurse, or specialized nurse. Also put in writing who passes on information and who reports changes. That prevents everyone from thinking something different.

How do you arrange temporary handover of care?

If you suddenly become ill, are admitted to hospital, or are temporarily unable to provide care, replacement care may be needed quickly. This is called emergency care or urgent respite care. Which route is appropriate depends on the care your loved one is already receiving.

With a Wlz indication, the care office or care provider can look at extra care at home or a temporary admission. Without a Wlz indication, the municipality is responsible if your loved one cannot safely remain at home without your help. If district nursing is already in place, the district nurse can look at whether extra support is possible.

What do you do in the event of sudden unavailability without immediate danger?

For unexpected unavailability without immediate life-threatening danger, you can contact the Wmo desk of your municipality, district nursing, or the care office. In case of direct medical danger, 112 is appropriate.

It helps to include this route in your emergency plan in advance. Then you have less to figure out yourself in a difficult moment.

How do you make the plan usable in practice?

Ask the pediatric nurse or another involved care provider to clearly write down which professional care is needed. Also have noted what you do voluntarily and who the backup contact is. That makes clear what is and is not expected of you.

Make the plan together with your loved one. Record agreements about tasks, expectations, responsibilities, and what information is shared. Keep the plan in a place where it can be found quickly, together with a care folder or emergency card. Then someone else can use it more quickly.

What can you do after that?

Have it noted in your own file with the GP that you are a caregiver. Then the practice knows what you are dealing with. You can also ask for a referral yourself.

Prepare a conversation well. Write down your symptoms, bring a list of your medications, and ask for a double appointment if you want to discuss more than one thing. If the care becomes too much for you, go to your own GP.