Emergency scheme gives peace of mind

Carers are taking advantage of a new scheme to help them plan what would happen to the person they care for in the event of a crisis.
The Princess Royal Trust Carers Service and Reading Crossroads are working in partnership with Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils to ensure unpaid carers have access to a local Emergency Respite Scheme, which will ensure they can summon help if they become ill or have an accident. The scheme is being funded by Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council.
The emergency plan will outline what should happen and who will help to ensure the person cared for – a husband, wife, friend or neighbour – is safe in the event of the carer becoming ill, having an accident or personal crisis such as a funeral, a transport delay or a last minute appointment.
Carers will be able to ring a dedicated helpline so staff from Crossroads can implement the plan any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. When necessary, Crossroads will send a fully trained carer support worker to the cared for person or will summon other support as indicated in the emergency plan.
A carer can also carry an Emergency Card, which will identity them to the emergency services, who will contact Crossroads to implement their plan.
Mary Jacobs of Crossroads said the scheme was attracting carers in Reading and Wokingham and gives carers peace of mind even if an emergency never occurs.
John Shaw, chief executive of the Carers Service, added: “A carer’s emergency plan will be tailor-made to suit each carer’s circumstances and will outline who will ensure the person they care for is safe and well. However, what is invaluable about this scheme is that help can be summoned at any time of the day or night via Crossroads for free.”

For further help and information about the emergency scheme, please contact the Reading Crossroads Emergency Care Line on 0118 945 4209 or the Carers Service on 0118 950 5177.