New Emergency Card Scheme for Family Carers:

 

Family Carers Ireland (FCI), in partnership with An Garda Siochana, the National Ambulance Service Community First Responder Schemes, The Irish Red Cross and The Order of Malta has developed a new Emergency Card Scheme for family carers.  If a family carer is involved in an accident, has an unplanned hospital admission or is suddenly taken ill, there is a risk that the person who needs their care and support could be left at home alone and uncared for. 

The Emergency Card Scheme (free to family carers with access to a 24/7 emergency helpline) is intended to give peace of mind to family carers as well as ensuring that the person they care for remains safe in such emergencies. It involves completion of an Emergency Care plan by the family carer including nominating two people (family members/friends) to take over their caring role in such an emergency and the issuing by FCI of an Emergency Card to family carers who sign up to the scheme. Where a family carer cannot nominate two people or where their nominated person cannot be reached in the event of an emergency then FCI will link with other agencies/service providers and/or emergency services to ensure a care plan is put in place for the cared for person.

 

You can download the Emergency Care Plan here.

For more details on the scheme, please go to www.familycarers.ie or call Family Carer’s Ireland Freephone Careline 1800 24 07 24. The scheme is kindly supported by Irish Life and the Dormant Accounts Fund.