Start an informal care plan

What an informal care plan actually is

An informal care plan is a written map of someone’s daily routines, preferences, risks, key contacts, and a review date. It is not a legal document. It is a tool you and the person you support create together so that help is consistent, respectful, and does not rely on memory. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an informal carer as anyone who provides unpaid care to a family member or friend (WHO, 2023). The method below gives you a repeatable way to build that plan.

Core components of the plan

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2023) recommends that a community-based care plan covers five areas. Each one answers a specific question.

Routines

What does a typical day look like? Map the basics: waking, meals, medications, personal care, activities, appointments, and bedtime. Note times and sequences that matter. For example, does the person prefer to shower in the morning or evening? Do they need a specific drink with a meal? Write down what is usual, not what you think should happen.

Preferences

What does the person want? This includes food likes and dislikes, how they like to be addressed, what TV or radio they enjoy, who they want to see, and what they do not want. Include small things: the brand of tea they prefer, the side of the bed they sleep on, the order they dress. The principle of “nothing about us without us” means the person must be involved in deciding these preferences.

Risks

What could go wrong? Identify risks to the person’s health, safety, or wellbeing. Common examples include falls, missed medication, forgetting to eat, wandering, or self-neglect. For each risk, write one simple action you can take to reduce it, and one action to take if it happens. For example: risk of missed medication, action: set a daily phone reminder; if missed, call the GP or pharmacist.

Contacts

Who needs to be reachable? List names, roles, phone numbers, and when to call them. Include: - GP surgery and practice number - District nurse or community health team (if involved) - Local pharmacy - Emergency contact (family or friend who can step in) - Local authority adult safeguarding team (for reporting a concern) - Carer support organisation (e.g., Carers UK or Carers Trust) - Crisis line (e.g., 988 in the US, 111 in the UK for non-life-threatening mental health support)

Keep a printed copy near the phone and a digital copy on a phone.

Review date

When will you update this plan? The NHS (NHS, 2024) recommends reviewing a care plan at least every 12 months or after any significant change in health, living situation, or support network. Write the next review date on the plan itself.

How to create the plan in practice

Step 1: Have the conversation. Ask the person if they would like to write down how things are done. Use a script if it helps: “I’d like to make sure I help you the way you want. Would it be okay if we wrote down your usual routines and what you prefer, so we both remember?”

Step 2: Use a simple template. You do not need a form from a professional. A sheet of paper with the five sections above is enough. Write in plain language that the person can understand.

Step 3: Include one or two other people. If the person agrees, share the plan with a neighbour, friend, or family member who sometimes helps. This prevents confusion and makes help consistent.

Step 4: Keep it accessible. Put a copy in a visible place (e.g., on the fridge) and give a copy to each person who helps regularly.

Step 5: Set the review date. Write it on the plan. Put a reminder in your phone two weeks before that date.

Boundaries you must respect

An informal care plan is not a substitute for professional care. The Care Act 2014 (England) gives carers a legal right to a formal carer’s assessment from the local authority. That assessment can lead to services such as respite or home care. Your informal plan complements that process; it does not replace it.

You must also respect the person’s consent. They can refuse to share a preference or to have a plan at all. The only exception is if there is an immediate risk of harm. In that case, you call emergency services (999 or 911) or the local authority adult safeguarding team.

When to update the plan

Update the plan when: - The person’s health changes (new diagnosis, hospital discharge, fall) - Their living situation changes (moving home, new housemate, change in family support) - A key contact changes (GP retires, friend moves away) - You or another helper notice something is not working (e.g., a routine that causes distress) - The review date arrives

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake	How to avoid
Taking over, writing the plan without asking the person.	Always ask first. Let them lead where they can.
Vague offers, “Let me know if you need anything” becomes the plan.	Make each item concrete: “I’ll call at 10am to check if you need anything from the shop.”
No review, the plan is written once and forgotten.	Set the review date and a reminder.
Ignoring boundaries, the plan assumes you are available 24/7.	Be honest about what you can and cannot do. Write your own limits into the plan.
Sharing without consent, giving a copy to someone the person does not trust.	Ask who they want to see the plan.

Helping the person through the plan

The core skill is listening, not solving. When you ask about routines or preferences, use reflective listening: paraphrase what they say to show you understand. For example: “So you like to have a cup of tea first thing, but you prefer it without milk. Is that right?” This builds trust and catches errors.

Offer practical help in a specific way. Instead of “Can I help with anything?” say “I can pick up your prescription on Tuesday afternoon. Would that help?” A specific offer is more likely to be accepted and acted on.

When to involve others

You do not have to do this alone. If the person agrees, involve: - Family or friends who may take over if you are unavailable - A volunteer coordinator if you are part of a mutual aid group - A local carer support organisation for advice on local services - A professional (e.g., GP, district nurse, social worker) for health or social care needs

If you are a volunteer in a mutual aid group, the volunteer-management standard (Volunteer Scotland, 2023) states that volunteers should be involved in developing their own role and support plan. Apply that same principle: involve the volunteer in the care plan they will help with.

Safeguarding: when to act

If you see or hear something that suggests the person is at immediate risk of harm (e.g., abuse, neglect, self-harm, severe self-neglect), you must act. Do not wait for the next review. Call the local authority adult safeguarding team or, in an emergency, 999 (UK) or 911 (US). A safeguarding concern is not gossip. It is a specific, observable risk reported to a designated authority.

Self-care for the supporter

You cannot sustain help without breaks. The Carer Strain Index (used in research) shows that supporters who take regular breaks score 40% lower on strain (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2023). Build your own boundaries into the plan. Write down when you will take a break, who will cover, and what you will do to recharge.

Summary of the method

1. Map routines, preferences, risks, contacts, and a review date.
2. Create the plan with the person, not for them.
3. Share with people the person trusts.
4. Review at least every 12 months or after a change.
5. Respect boundaries: your own and the person’s.
6. Act on safeguarding concerns immediately.