Respite Care Meaning
Respite care provides temporary support, typically for a short period of time, ranging from two to eight weeks. This allows the primary caregiver to take a break for rest, personal needs, or holidays, while their loved one receives appropriate support.
What Does a Respite Carer Do?
In the UK, respite care is available in various forms to best meet the needs and situation of the individual. These include:
In-home respite care
At-home respite care involves a carer staying in the individual’s home to provide support in a place where they feel most comfortable. Ranging from a couple of weeks to several weeks, this flexible option can serve as a great trial for live-in care.
Residential care
Care homes offer respite care, providing short-term accommodation and round-the-clock assistance for individuals who require support, enabling their primary caregivers to take a break.
Day care
Individuals can visit day care centres for a few hours or a full day, enjoying social activities and outings that promote interaction among older adults. This provides caregivers with a valuable daytime break.
Benefits of Respite Care
There are many benefits of opting for respite care in order to give caregivers a much-needed break. Some of the key benefits include:
✔ Allows time to rest and recharge
If you’re caring for a loved one, you’ll know how demanding it can be. Respite care allows you to take a short break, returning refreshed and better equipped to provide exceptional support, which also benefits the person you care for.
✔ Prevents social isolation
Caregiving can be isolating, leaving little time for your own interests or socialising, which impacts both you and your loved one. Respite care allows the person receiving care to connect with different people outside the family, while you take time to yourself.
✔ Strengthened relationships
Devoting your time into caregiving for a long period of time can lead to feelings of resentment, even if it’s unintentional. Respite care can improve relationships for you and your loved one as taking a break can prevent built-up frustration.
✔ Improved physical and emotional health
A change in routine can benefit emotional and physical health for both the people involved. The care recipient can enjoy a fresh routine, while the primary caregiver learns different ways to provide support.
To find out further information on how this adds value to you or your loved ones life, visit our Benefits of Respite Care page.
How to Arrange Respite Care
Respite care can be arranged in a few steps:
Step one: Assess & plan
Firstly, identify the type of respite care your loved one requires, whether this be in-home, residential setting or day care centre.
You may be able to identify the type of support your loved one needs, however with The Good Care Group one of our respite carers will visit your loved ones home to carry out a free care consultation to assess this.
Step two: Research a provider
It’s important to carry out research online to find a suitable provider that best meets your loved ones needs. We advise that you check their rating on the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and visit the care setting if applicable.
Step three: Arrange and confirm
Call up your provider of choice and a plan can be put in place. At The Good Care Group we can arrange our high quality care respite care in just under 48 hours.
If you are interested in finding out more about our respite services, contact us today.
Impact on Benefits
Carer’s Allowance is a weekly payment you may be entitled to if you provide care for someone for at least 35 hours per week. If you are unsure, it is always worth checking your eligibility.
If you’re considering respite care and currently receive Carer’s Allowance, we advise you to check whether this impacts your entitlement. Taking an extended break from caregiving can affect your eligibility, but short, planned breaks typically will not.
Emergency Respite Care
Unforeseen circumstances can arise, such as the primary caregiver becoming unwell or facing an unexpected event. In these instances, emergency respite care is required and must be arranged quickly to ensure the individual has uninterrupted support.
Emergency respite care can be provided in the settings mentioned above and is arranged for the duration needed until the primary caregiver returns.
At The Good Care Group, a carer can be in your home in under 48 hours, providing support for a range of tasks from personal care, medication administration to mobility assistance.
Additional Resources and Support
Choosing whether you want to arrange care can be stressful. Not to worry, there are many resources and support groups that are easily accessible. Our Care Advice Hub may have the answers you need or additionally a number of charities and organisations can support:
Age UK - Offers information and advice to support older adults and their caregivers, including guidance on respite care.
Alzheimer’s Society - Provides specialised support for those living with dementia and their carers, including respite care options.
NHS Website - Provides information on support services including respite care.
Talk to us about your care needs
Call our team today – we are available 24/7 to take your call.