A winter plan for caring at home: flu jabs, a back-up plan and who to call
Winter puts extra pressure on families who care at home. Free NHS flu jabs for carers, a written back-up plan, and the numbers to keep to hand.
Winter is when caring at home gets harder. Colds and flu go round, heating costs rise, and a day you cannot be there can leave a gap. A short plan now can make those weeks more manageable.
Flu jabs for carers
The free NHS flu vaccine is offered each autumn and winter to eligible groups, and that includes many unpaid carers. You can get it if you receive Carer's Allowance, or if you are the main carer of an older or disabled person (NHS, Flu vaccine, page last reviewed 29 September 2026). From 1 October 2026 carers in those groups are eligible, along with people aged 65 and over and adults with certain long-term health conditions (UKHSA, 27 August 2026).
Book through the NHS App, a pharmacy that offers free flu vaccination, or your GP surgery. The person you look after may also be eligible. Frontline social care workers can often get a vaccine through their employer.
A back-up plan if you cannot be there
Carers UK advises every carer to make a contingency plan for times when you cannot care (Carers UK, Creating a contingency plan). Put in one place:
- the name, address and contact details of the person you look after
- who to call, including friends, family and professionals
- medicines, where they are kept, and any allergies
- their GP and pharmacy
- any care services, mobility aids and routines others need to know
Talk it through with the person you look after if you can, give trusted people a copy, and keep it up to date. Ask your local council about a carer's assessment: you should be asked about emergencies and offered help to plan for them. Some areas run a carers' emergency card scheme through the council or a local carers' centre.
What this means for you
- Book flu jabs for yourself and, if eligible, for the person you look after.
- Write a one-page back-up plan and share it with at least one other person.
- Keep key numbers to hand: GP, NHS 111, pharmacy, and your council's out-of-hours social care duty team.
- Join your supplier's Priority Services Register if someone at home is older, disabled or relies on powered equipment (Ofgem).
- Ask Carers UK or your local carers' service for free advice on planning and support.
If you're worried about their health, contact their GP or NHS 111. In an emergency call 999.
Guidance only. The NHS and your local council decide what applies to you.
Coming Home: Family Care is a UK iPhone app we're building to help families keep the plans, contacts and paperwork of caring in one place. Join the waitlist.
Original source: Flu vaccine, NHS