Emergency Contacts List: Who Your Carer Needs to Be Able to Reach

It is one of the simplest things you can prepare before care begins, and one of the most genuinely useful. A clear, up-to-date list of emergency and key contacts means that if anything happens, or your loved one's carer simply needs to reach the right person quickly, they can do so without hunting or guessing.

It takes very little time to put together, and it brings real peace of mind. Here is who to include, and how to organise it so it works when it is needed.

Why it matters

A live-in carer, however capable, cannot know instinctively who to call in every situation. In an urgent moment, the last thing anyone wants is to be searching through an address book or trying to remember a GP's number. A single, clear list, kept somewhere obvious, means the right person or service can be reached straight away, calmly and without delay.

It is a small piece of preparation that can make a real difference at exactly the moments that matter most.

Medical and health contacts

These are the most important to have to hand:

• the GP surgery, with its name, address and phone number
• the pharmacy your loved one uses
• any specialists or health professionals involved, such as a district nurse, consultant, physiotherapist or community team
• NHS 111, for urgent but non-emergency health advice
• your loved one's NHS number, if you have it, which is useful in dealings with health services
• details of any regular treatments or clinics your loved one attends

It is also worth noting, simply, that 999 is the number for a genuine emergency, and a good carer will always know to call it when needed.

Family and personal contacts

Your carer will need to know who in the family to contact, and in what order:

• the main family contact, the first person to call, with their phone number
• a second contact, in case the first cannot be reached
• other close family members who should be kept informed
• anyone who holds Lasting Power of Attorney, or has a formal role in your loved one's affairs
• a trusted neighbour or close friend, who can be a helpful local point of contact

It helps to be clear about the order, so your carer knows who to try first, and about who should be told what, so the right people are kept in the loop.

Practical and household contacts

Beyond medical and family, a few practical contacts are worth including for the everyday running of the home:

• an emergency plumber, electrician or heating engineer, or the details of a home emergency cover policy if there is one
• the energy and water suppliers, in case of a power cut or a problem
• a locksmith, or a note of where spare keys are held
• the landlord or managing agent, if your loved one rents or lives in a managed building
• any alarm monitoring company, if there is a burglar alarm or personal alarm

These are the sort of thing that is frustrating to hunt for in the moment, and reassuring to have listed in advance.

Your care provider's contacts

Your carer is not on their own, and neither are you. It is worth having the care provider's contact details clearly noted too:

• the care provider's main number
• the out-of-hours or on-call number, for evenings and weekends
• your loved one's care manager or coordinator, the named person who knows their situation

At Edyn, our team is available around the clock, so there is always someone to call for advice or support, and your carer knows exactly how to reach us.

Keep it clear and visible

A contacts list only works if it can be found quickly, so:

• keep it somewhere obvious and agreed, such as on the fridge, by the phone, or in the care folder
• make sure the carer knows where it is from day one
• keep a copy in more than one place, and consider a copy in your loved one's phone
• write it clearly, so anyone can read and use it, including in a stressful moment

Keep it up to date

Contacts change, so it is worth glancing over the list from time to time and updating anything that has changed, a new GP, a different phone number, a change in who the main contact is. An out-of-date emergency list can be worse than none at all, so a quick review every so often keeps it reliable. Once care is underway, your carer and care team help keep key information current.

A note on privacy

An emergency contacts list holds personal details about your family, so treat it with a little care. Keep it where it is useful to those who need it, but be mindful that it is personal information. A reputable care provider handles this kind of information responsibly and confidentially, as part of looking after your loved one properly.

Simple, and worth it

Of all the things to prepare before care begins, an emergency contacts list is among the quickest and most valuable. A few minutes spent getting it right means that whatever comes up, your loved one's carer can reach exactly the right person, without delay, at the moment it matters.

Our guide to the essential documents to gather before care starts covers the other useful information worth having ready.

If you would like any help preparing for care, we are always happy to lend a hand.

Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900.