What Is Respite Care?

If you’re caring for a loved one, finding time to rest, work or simply take a break can feel difficult. Respite care provides temporary support, giving family carers peace of mind while ensuring their loved one continues to receive the care and companionship they need.

But what exactly is respite care, who is it suitable for, and what does it involve? In this guide, we’ll explain what respite care means, explore the different types of support available, and look at how professional homecare can give families greater flexibility when they need it most.

Generally, ‘respite’ means to take a break from something difficult, or a period of temporary delay. In the context of care, ‘respite’ means short-term caregiving support to give a primary carer a break. If you arrange respite care, it means someone will look after your loved one while you take the time to rest and recharge.

In practice, respite care can take many forms. When it comes to arranging private care with a homecare provider, it is usually arranged in advance and can be a one-off for a specific event such as a holiday or regular visits to give the primary carer a break the same day each week. By arranging respite care in your loved one’s own home, they can keep their usual routine as much as possible. 

Respite care can also take place outside of the home. Some primary carers take their loved ones to day centres and community groups or arrange a short stay in a care home. While respite care at home can preserve your loved one’s usual routine and comfort, respite care in centres and groups can provide social engagement and a change of scenery.

There are some signs you might need respite care as a carer to a loved one. It can show itself as physical exhaustion, a shorter temper than you recognise in yourself, difficulty concentrating, a sense of hopelessness, or perhaps getting ill more often than usual.

You might also notice that you're losing interest in things you normally enjoy, struggling to sleep, or feeling increasingly overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring. You may find yourself feeling guilty for wanting time away, even when you know you need a break. These feelings are more common than you might think, and they don't mean you care any less about the person you're supporting.

It can be easy to put your own needs to one side when someone you love depends on you. However, caring for someone is a significant responsibility, and looking after your own wellbeing is an important part of being able to provide good care. You don't have to wait until you're completely exhausted and feeling burnt out before asking for support.

Respite care works best as a preventative measure for caregiver burnout. Regular breaks, taken before you reach breaking point, can give you valuable time to rest, catch up on sleep, spend time with friends and family, or do something for yourself. This can help you return to your caring responsibilities feeling more rested and able to cope.

Arranging respite care can feel like another task to add to an already busy schedule, but getting the right support in place can make a significant difference to both you and the person you care for. The first step is to think about what type of break you need and what level of care your loved one requires.

If you are considering respite care, start by discussing the options with your loved one, where possible. Consider their usual routine, the type of support they need and whether they would feel more comfortable receiving care at home or staying somewhere else temporarily. This can help you identify the most suitable type of respite care.

Once you have decided, here are some first steps you can take to arrange your respite care:

• Day centres or social groups: These services are usually run by local councils or charities so you can get in touch with your local authority responsible for social care to find out more. To qualify for council-funded day care centre visits, the person you look after will need to have had a care needs assessment.
• Care homes or nursing homes: You can find a local care home or nursing home through the NHS website and enquire directly with the individual facilities about booking short stays for your loved one.
• Homecare providers: A great place to begin researching local providers is the independent review website homecare.co.uk. By entering your postcode, you can view homecare providers in your area and read reviews from Clients and their families. After an initial discussion with a care provider, they may suggest a care needs assessment. If you decide to proceed, the provider will discuss a start date for care and share the necessary paperwork.

When it comes to private care providers, they should take the time to understand your loved one's individual needs, preferences and circumstances before recommending a suitable care package. This might include a few hours of care during the day, overnight support, live-in care or a longer period of respite.