Breaks and emergency help

Emergency planning
Carers often worry about what will happen if, at short notice, they are unable to care.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Hampshire will help you to discuss, develop and implement your own emergency plan so that you can arrange care at short notice.

Once your Emergency Plan has been completed and signed it is backed up by:

• a 24-hour telephone line 0800 169 1577
• information about other services available
• up to 48 hours of care services free of charge in the event of an emergency
• a carer's emergency card.

Carers UK also have advice about planning for emergencies.

This card, which includes emergency contact numbers, should be carried in your bag or wallet. In the event of an accident, this would help alert police officers, the ambulance service or other emergency response staff to the fact that there is also someone else in need of help.
Print and complete the Carers emergency card now. (You do not need to have a PRT emergency plan).

The Herbert Protocol
Hampshire Search and Rescue, Hampshire Constabulary and the Alzheimer's Society have launched the Herbert Protocol to help those that care for vulnerable people who may go missing.  You are asked to download and complete a 'Life History Questionnaire' and to record a range of information about the person you care for. You then keep this in a safe place so that it can be made immediately available to police and search teams if the person goes missing.  

Short break services and day opportunities
You can search our Community Directory to find voluntary organisations offering Carers breaks and Day opportunities. You can also search our Marketplace directory and look under 'Respite/short breaks' and 'Day care and outreach support' (Day care includes local care homes offering these services).

Both directories have a short explainer video which will help you to get the most out of your searches.

Community activities
Many local community groups and activities available to the person you care for may offer you the opportunity of a break. Look in our Community directory under 'Community support/activities' for lunch clubs and social groups in your area. Some clubs may be able to offer transport.

Carers of adults with learning disabilities
There are many groups, activities and clubs in Hampshire for adults with learning disabilities which offer their carers or relatives an opportunity to take a break.

Care at home
If you need a short break during the day, you could use our Marketplace directory to find home care agencies and other providers who offer a ‘sitting service’ (look under 'Home support').  You can also search the  'Live-in care agencies' category if you need longer term care at home which would allow you to go away (overnight or for a longer break or holiday).

Personal Assistant
You could consider employing a PA in Care to help you to support the person you are caring for. This could be full-time or for a few hours a week to give you a break. The Hampshire PA Finder website aims to match those looking for a PA in Care with PAs looking for work.  Or you could advertise locally (always make sure you do the necessary checks and take up references).

Holidays
If the person you look after needs special care whilst on holiday, due to disability or other conditions, there are specialist care holiday organisations and accommodation. See our Holidays page.

Leisure activities for you
Have a look in our community directory under 'Community support/activities'. We have hundreds of local groups, clubs and activities.

For information about carers' assessments, see our Support and advice page.  Local authorities may be able to provide respite services to carers who have been assessed as having eligible needs.
Carers' assessments  and other support is  available from your local authority - contact your local adult social care department.