Respite care
What is respite care?
Respite care describes separate periods of care if you, or your carer, need to have a short-term break. Respite care can be provided either in residential care or at home, at the time of your choice. The breaks are only short-term and do not usually last for longer than three months of continuous care. This can be also provided in a emergency such as illness.
If your problem is due to illness, you should always first contact your GP or district nurse.
Who is it for?
Respite care is available to older people and adults with a mental health problem or physical, sensory or learning disability. It can help you to continue living safely while giving your carer peace of mind knowing you are in a safe and cared for environment
What types of breaks are there?
If your break is in your own home we will arrange for a carer to come in and care for you. This care can be for a few hours while your main carer is out, or for an overnight stay. Longer periods can also be provided through services such as home care, day care and meals on wheels. .
If your break is away from your home we will arrange for you to stay in residential care which will give you 24 hour care. This can be helpful if you are coming out of hospital and need rehabilitation, if your main carer is away, or if you need emergency short-term care.You might also be eligible for breaks on a more regular basis, which means you can book your stays with the residential home in advance to suit you and your carers needs.
How much will it cost?
We will ask you to pay for or contribute towards the cost of respite care. The amount you pay depends on how much you can afford and is worked out through a financial assessment. Find out more about paying for services.
How can I apply?
To apply for respite care you should have a community care assessment which assesses your needs.
The money available limits the services that we can offer, and we cannot meet everyone’s needs all the time. Some people will have more important needs than others and the assessment process helps us find out whose needs are greatest. Find out more about completing the assessment process.
Further information
You can download information about home care providers here.
