Respite care allows you to take a break from caring while another qualified professional looks after the person you care for.
In this post we’ll explain what respite care is, how it works, and how much it might cost.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care allows carers to take a much needed and well deserved break, safe in the knowledge that the person you care for will still have all of their care needs met by trained professionals.
You might think of respite care as care for carers. It lets you recharge your batteries, which means you can deliver even better care when you return from your break.
How Long Does Respite Care Last?
You can get respite care to last for a few hours, or for a longer period, which may allow you to go on holiday.
How Does Respite Care Work?
There are a few different types of respite care:
Home Respite Care
A qualified professional will visit your home for a few hours to look after the person you care for. They can take care of cooking, cleaning, dressing, and other daily tasks, and they can also take them on outings.
You can also arrange for “sitting services”, in which a trained volunteer will visit your home and keep the person you care for company for a few hours.
Day Care
The person you care for will be picked up from their home and driven to a day care centre. They can then spend a day taking part in activities or workshops, or just seeing their friends. And at the end of the day, they’ll be dropped off home again.
Residential Care
This means that the person you care for will stay at a residential care home for a few days, or longer. During their stay, all of their care needs will be met, which will enable you to take an extended break with total peace of mind.
Respite Holidays
Some charities offer funding for people with illnesses and disabilities, along with the people who care for them, to take a holiday together.
Help from Friends and Family
Finally, you can ask friends or family to temporarily move into your home to look after the person you care for. Or the person you care for can move into a friend or family member’s house.
This will allow you to take a break, but bear in mind that your friends and family may not be trained carers, and they may not be able to meet all care needs.
How Much is Respite Care?
Some types of respite care are free. Sitting services are usually offered by volunteers, and it’s unlikely that friends and family will demand payment if you ask them for help.
But others are paid-for services. More elaborate or long-term respite care services can cost around £700 or £800 a week. Live in care, and stays in care homes, can cost up to £1,500 a week.
Who Pays For Respite Care?
If your carer’s assessment or needs assessment finds that you qualify for respite care, then the council will carry out a financial assessment. Depending on your situation, the council may pay for all of the respite care. Or you may be required to contribute to some, or all, of the costs.
Certain charities also have funding to pay for certain respite care services. You can also arrange for respite care yourself, through a self-funded option. Head here for more information about self-funded care options.
Read our full guide to who pays for respite care. (this will link to the who pays for respite care blog)
How to Arrange Respite Care
How you arrange respite care will depend on where you live.
In some areas, respite care may be arranged as standard as part of your carer’s assessment. In other areas, the person you look after may need to go through a needs assessment. If this assessment finds that you need respite care, then your local council should arrange it.
And as we mentioned above, you can also pay directly for your own respite care.
Get The Respite Care You Need With Crossroads Direct
We offer a range of discounts for new clients, and our dedicated team will work closely with you to design a bespoke care plan that meets your specific needs. We also have some funded options, which may mean we can pay for your respite care services ourselves.
Find out more and get in touch for a free care and support consultation today.
