Breaks and emergency help

These assessments look not only at the support available from your council but also from a range of private and voluntary organisations. For more information, visit your local authority’s website and search ‘carers’ assessment’.

Southampton City Council

Tel: 023 8058 2387 Web: www.southampton.gov.uk

Portsmouth City Council

Tel: 023 9285 1864 Web: www.portsmouth.gov.uk

Carers often worry about what will happen if, at short notice, they are unable to care. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Hampshire can support you with emergency planning. See page 70 for more information.

Once your Emergency Plan has been completed and signed it is backed up by: • A 24-hour telephone line on 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 carers’ emergency card.

Carer’s emergency card

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 by visiting www.connecttosupporthampshire.org. uk/breaksforcarers (you do not need to have a Princess Royal Trust emergency plan).

The Herbert Protocol

Hampshire Search and Rescue, Hampshire Constabulary and Alzheimer’s Society launched the Herbert Protocol to help those who 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.

For more information, call 0330 330 9506 or visit

www.hantsar.org/herbert-protocol

Getting a break and having a life alongside caring

There is a range of options available to ensure that carers can maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle when they are not caring for a loved one:

• Short break services and day opportunities (search

Connect to Support Hampshire’s Community

Directory and Marketplace Directory – visit www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk ).

• Community activities (search Connect to Support

Hampshire’s Community Directory).

• Care at home (you could contact local home care agencies beginning on page 51 and ask if they provide a ‘sitting service’. You could also ask if

‘live-in care’ is offered, this would enable you to go away overnight or for a longer break).

• Personal Assistant (see page 45 for more information).

• Holidays (see page 28 for more information).

• Leisure activities (see page 26 for more information).

• Local care homes (many offer short-stay care if you need a break. Use the list of CQC-registered residential care providers beginning on page 124. You can also ask about day care for nonresidents. This might be informal day care, joining in with the daily activities of the residents, or formal, organised day care services).