Make a backup plan for someone you care for

Agree who takes over and when

Choose a main backup and, if possible, a second person. Check that each agrees, can get there and understands the tasks they can safely do. Record when to activate the plan, such as a missed check-in, illness or a delay that leaves essential care uncovered.

Discuss the person's wishes, communication preferences and how much support they need while waiting. Tell helpers where the plan is kept. A named contact who has never agreed or cannot enter the home is not a workable arrangement.

NHS: building an emergency care plan (opens in a new tab)

Write a useful care handover

Record which utility providers have confirmed priority support, the nominated contact and how to ask for help during an interruption. Agree any sharing with the person receiving care. Keep provider confirmation with the handover so a backup carer knows what has actually been arranged.

• The person's name, address, preferred name and how they communicate.
• Who to call first, a second contact and care-provider numbers.
• Essential daily routines, meals, drinks, personal care and the next time-sensitive task.
• Current medication record, allergies, storage location and the existing instructions for supporting medicines.
• GP, pharmacy and relevant care-team contacts, plus where the current care plan is kept.
• Mobility and transfer needs, equipment, consumables and tasks that need trained help.
• Power-dependent equipment, backup duration and the agreed outage response.
• How an authorised helper can enter safely, where essential items are and any pet care needed.

Carers UK: preparing emergency information (opens in a new tab)Prepare a PSR call and keep a registration record

Arrange support if friends or family cannot help

Ask the local council's social care team or carers service about emergency planning, assessments and any local emergency card scheme. In Northern Ireland, contact the relevant Health and Social Care Trust. Save daytime and out-of-hours numbers before a crisis.

In Scotland, ask the council or carer centre for an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement that includes emergency arrangements. Local schemes differ: confirm registration, coverage, response arrangements and limits rather than assuming a card guarantees replacement care.

Scotland: carer support plans (opens in a new tab)Northern Ireland: assessments for carers (opens in a new tab)Carers Wales: local emergency card schemes (opens in a new tab)

Your practical rehearsal checklist

• Walk through a usual day with the backup person and identify any missing instructions.
• Confirm access, travel time and what happens if the first contact does not answer.
• Ask professionals to explain tasks requiring training; do not expect an untrained helper to improvise.
• Check the phone, telecare and equipment outage plan together.
• Carry a note or local scheme card explaining that someone depends on you and whom to contact.
• Add general contact and meeting arrangements to your household plan.

Make your household plan

Keep the plan private and current

Keep the detailed care handover in a private document or paper folder. Share it only with agreed helpers and relevant professionals, with the person's involvement wherever possible. Give helpers access to essential instructions without putting door codes or medical details on a publicly visible card.

Date the plan and review it after changes to care, medicines, equipment or contacts. Replace old copies and tell everyone what changed.

NHS: contingency plans and agreed sharing (opens in a new tab)

Practise a missed-check-in scenario

Example: a carer normally arrives before a time-sensitive task, but transport is disrupted. Agree in advance who notices the missed visit, how long to wait and which named person or service to contact next. The time limit must fit the person’s actual care needs; there is no safe universal waiting period.

Ask the backup person to find the plan, contact numbers, access instructions and equipment guidance. Confirm what they can safely do, which tasks require trained help and how to escalate if neither informal helper answers. Record the local care provider or social services emergency route, or the relevant Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.

Review after a change in care, medicine, equipment, address or support network. Keep only the information needed for a safe handover and agree who can see it.

Create and print the household handoverPriority Services Register guideEquipment and accessibility planning