Support for the person being cared for during a Carers break

Top Tips shared by Carers for consideration once you’ve decided on the support needed to take a break -

• Plan in advance - ensuring things go as smoothly as possible and you get the most of your break. For example, if you are going away with the persons you care for, check catering and accessibility arrangements
• Provide information - leaving as much information as possible to the persons providing alternative care to ensure care is as consistent as possible. This may include meal preferences and times, medication, contact list (family, friends, neighbours, GP, and any other medical or social care professionals), and any emergency plan in place
• Emergency Plan - You may choose to go through the details of any emergency plan with the people who will be providing alternative care. A guide can help with this on the Carers UK website
• Contingency Plan - You may want to think about having someone on standby
• Ensure clarity of formal plans in terms of timescale, processes and finances
• You may not get this right first time, keep trying different things until you find the right break for you
• It can feel like an extra job to organise a break, but it is worth it. Breaks can help you keep caring for longer, so if you can’t put yourself first, do it for the person you care for