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Guides
Plain-English guides for carers and families. Anyone can read them, and the PDF is there to download.
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All guides
30 guides
Home and adaptations
Adapting a home: grants, equipment and who to ask
A family guide to Disabled Facilities Grants and other help, for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Health conditions
After a stroke: a family guide
A family guide for the weeks after a stroke, covering leaving hospital, life at home, and help across the UK.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Arranging care
Arranging care: help at home or a care home
A family guide to arranging help at home or a care home, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Attendance Allowance in Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment
Pension Age Disability Payment, Scotland's Attendance Allowance: 2026/27 rates, who can get it, applying, terminal illness and challenging a decision.
Version 1. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Attendance Allowance: a family guide to claiming
A family guide to claiming Attendance Allowance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Scotland's Pension Age Disability Payment.
Version 1.1.1. October 2026.
Coming home from hospital
Can a hospital discharge someone without care in place?
When a hospital can discharge someone, saying no to caring, refusing care, dementia and capacity, nowhere to go, and raising concerns. All four nations.
Version 1. October 2026.
Health conditions
Caring for someone with cancer: a family guide
A family guide to caring for someone with cancer, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Carer's Allowance in Scotland: Carer Support Payment
Carer Support Payment, Scotland's Carer's Allowance: 2026/27 rates, who can get it, work and study rules, other benefits, applying and disagreeing.
Version 1. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Carer's Allowance: a guide for people caring 35 hours a week
A family guide to Carer's Allowance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Scotland's Carer Support Payment.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Arranging care
Adult Carer Support Plan: help for you, as a carer in Scotland
Your right to an Adult Carer Support Plan in Scotland: how to ask, a letter to copy, local eligibility criteria, breaks and what to do if you disagree.
Version 1. October 2026.
Arranging care
Carer's assessment: help for you, as a carer
Your right to a carer's assessment: how to ask, getting ready, a letter to copy, the eligibility rules, support plans and what to do if you disagree.
Version 1. October 2026.
Looking after yourself
Caring for a parent from a distance: a family guide
How to help a parent who lives far away: a local contact, paperwork from home, assessments, visits, who to tell and a shared family rota.
Version 1. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Council Tax help for carers and families
Money off Council Tax for live-in carers, dementia, adapted homes, low incomes and care home moves, with a letter to copy. England, Wales, Scotland and NI.
Version 1. October 2026.
Health conditions
Caring for someone with dementia: a family guide
A family guide to caring for someone with dementia, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Home and adaptations
Disabled Facilities Grants: a family guide to getting the home adapted
A family guide to Disabled Facilities Grants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Scotland's scheme of assistance.
Version 1.0.2. October 2026.
Legal and planning ahead
Caring for someone at the end of life: a family guide
A family guide to caring for someone at the end of life, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Coming home from hospital
The first week home from hospital: a day by day guide
The first 7 days after someone comes home from hospital: papers, medicines, visits, sharing the week, missed visits, notes and a week planner.
Version 1. October 2026.
Coming home from hospital
Hospital discharge checklist
A printable checklist for families before someone comes home from hospital: what to ask the ward, getting the home ready and who to call.
Version 1. October 2026.
Coming home from hospital
Coming home from hospital: the first 30 days
A family guide to the first 30 days after hospital, for England, with what's different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.2. October 2026.
Looking after yourself
Looking after yourself as a carer: a family guide
A family guide to looking after yourself as a carer, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.1. October 2026.
Health conditions
Caring for someone with MND: a family guide
A family guide to caring for someone with motor neurone disease, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Money and help for the person you look after: Pension Credit, Blue Badge and Council Tax
A family guide to Pension Credit, Blue Badge, Council Tax and other help, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.1. October 2026.
Arranging care
NHS continuing healthcare: when the NHS pays for care
NHS continuing healthcare explained for families: who qualifies, the Checklist, full assessment, fast track, care homes, reviews and appeals.
Version 1. October 2026.
Arranging care
Personal budgets: council money for care and support
How council personal budgets and direct payments work: assessments, the plan, what the money can buy, carers, reviews and challenging decisions.
Version 1. October 2026.
Arranging care
Personal health budgets: NHS money for care, your way
Personal health budgets from the NHS: who has a right to one, continuing healthcare assessments, the plan, what it can buy, reviews and appeals.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Money and benefits
Personal Independence Payment: a family guide to claiming
A family guide to claiming Personal Independence Payment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Scotland's Adult Disability Payment.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Legal and planning ahead
Power of attorney: a family guide to sorting it before you need it
A family guide to power of attorney in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Version 1.0.1. October 2026.
Looking after yourself
Respite care: getting a break from caring
Types of break, how to ask the council, who pays, benefits during a short care home stay and planning for emergencies. England, Wales, Scotland and NI.
Version 1. October 2026.
Looking after yourself
Sharing the caring: a family guide for brothers, sisters and everyone who helps
How families can share caring: a family meeting, a weekly rota, money and records, Carer's Allowance for one carer, and what to do when it goes wrong.
Version 1. October 2026.
Looking after yourself
Working and caring: your rights and practical help
Carer's leave, time off in an emergency, flexible working, Carer's Allowance earnings and going back to work, with what's in force and what's planned.
Version 1. October 2026.
