Someone nearby. Useful information. Respect for personal choices.
You do not need to settle a diagnosis or finish an app before asking for help. This guide supports family conversations and practical coordination; it does not assess capacity, prescribe or replace in-person care.
Sudden confusion, rapidly worsening unusual perceptions or a risk of injury need urgent help. Do not explain a sudden change solely by an existing belief. Arrange in-person assessment and bring the medicines. [1, 2]
Choose a person who can physically attend and a local backup. Confirm the current address, access arrangements and local phone number. A relative abroad can coordinate calls and documents, but cannot replace someone on the scene. Confirm that someone actually attended.
Speak slowly, use short sentences and give time to respond. Acknowledge fear and pain without agreeing with or arguing against the belief. Keep the conversation calm rather than surrounding the person with questions. [1, 3]
Offer help with sleep, pain and reviewing all products taken. The person does not need to accept a mental-health diagnosis before getting care. Physical causes and medicines also need consideration. [2, 4]
With permission, gather product names, strengths, amounts actually used, last doses, known allergies and sources. Mark unknown information as unknown. Keep the packets. An incomplete list does not show that there are no other medicines. Do not hide treatment changes.
One option is to keep the diary private while sharing a short medical card with named people. A separate diary entry can be marked for sharing with approved recipients. This is voluntary sharing now, not automatic emergency access.
Disagreeing with a decision does not by itself establish incapacity. A clinician assesses the particular decision at the relevant time. Ask for clinical help when the person cannot understand or communicate. Treatment without consent in South Africa requires the applicable medical and legal process. This page does not override a valid refusal. [5, 6, 7]
A medical support plan does not grant control over money, land, passwords or a will. Exclude these from the emergency card. Property decisions require separate discussion and independent advice. Do not use a crisis to obtain signatures.
Before relying on future alerts, agree on recipients, consent, the channel, a receipt test and someone local. Sent does not mean read or attended. A missed diary entry does not prove an emergency, and no alert does not prove that someone is safe.
Mum, I can see that you are suffering. We do not need to argue about the cause for me to support you. I want someone to see you in person and review how to help with the pain, sleep and everything you are taking.
Person who can attend and phone
Local backup and phone
Current address and date confirmed
Clinician or clinic and phone
Medicines and last dose: where to find the list and packets
Allergies: known / unknown
What may be shared and with whom
Preferred way of speaking and what is reassuring
Open my journal Personal wellbeing guide
[2] NHS: hallucinations and hearing voices
[3] Mind: supporting someone experiencing psychosis
[4] British Association of Dermatologists: concerns about infestation
[5] NHS: assessing capacity (clinical explanation; UK legal details are not South African law)
[6] South African Government: National Health Act 61 of 2003, sections 7, 8 and 14–16