Service
Specialised care
Dementia support, palliative care at home alongside the person's medical team, and planned breaks for family carers.
Support for family carers
Respite care: a break for family carers
Planned cover so the family member who usually provides care can rest, work, travel or simply have time to themselves, while the person they care for keeps their routine.
Why planned breaks matter
Caring for a relative is often done out of love and duty, and it can go on for years. Many family carers combine it with work, children and their own health. Taking a break isn't a failure or a sign of caring less. Rest is part of what makes care sustainable, for the carer and for the person they look after.
Respite care means someone else steps in for a planned period, following the family's routine as closely as possible, so the person receiving care notices little change.
What respite can look like
Respite is flexible. It can be:
- a few hours each week, so a carer can go to work, the market, church or mosque, or simply rest;
- regular days, such as one day a week, arranged as visiting care;
- overnight or live-in cover while the family carer travels, attends a family event or has a holiday, arranged as live-in care;
- cover while a carer is unwell or in hospital themselves, planned as soon as the need is known.
Keeping the routine
The aim of respite is that daily life carries on. Before the first break, we learn the family's routine in detail: meals, medicines, favourite activities, how the person likes to be helped, and what tends to unsettle them. This goes into the care plan, alongside contact details for the family carer and who to call if something changes.
A clear handover at the start and end of each break means the family carer knows what happened while they were away, and the caregiver knows what to expect when they arrive.
Planning ahead
Respite is easier to arrange, and calmer for everyone, when it's planned:
- Contact us early, ideally before the carer is exhausted or a trip is booked.
- Have an assessment, so the person's needs and routine are understood.
- Agree the dates and the type of cover, with a written quote before anything is booked.
- Introduce the caregiver, where possible, before the first break.
Our guide to planning a sustainable break has a checklist for family carers.
Looking after the carer too
If you are the main carer, it's worth noticing your own signs of strain: poor sleep, feeling constantly on edge, missing your own medical appointments or losing touch with friends. These are common, and they are good reasons to plan support. If you are struggling with your own health or mood, talk to your doctor as well.
Common questions
How far ahead should we book respite care?
As early as you can, especially for live-in cover or longer breaks. Short-notice cover depends on who is available in the area, so we can't promise it, but we'll always tell you honestly what's possible.
Does the person need an assessment for a short break?
Yes. Respite care uses the same assessment as any other care, so the caregiver knows the person's needs and routine. Once there's a care plan, arranging future breaks is quicker.
Can respite care be regular, not just for holidays?
Yes. Some families arrange a regular afternoon or day each week; others book live-in cover for a holiday or a family event. Both are respite.
Can respite care include nursing tasks?
Yes, if the person needs them. Clinical tasks such as giving medicines or wound care are done by a nurse, as with any other care. See health and medical support.
Related
Understanding care
Planning a sustainable break for a family caregiver
Why carers need planned breaks, the kinds of cover available, and how to hand over well.
Care option
Live-in care
A caregiver lives in the home, giving steady day-to-day support and company, with agreed rest periods.
Plan a break with us
Tell us who you care for, their routine and when you'd like cover. We'll call you back to talk through the options.