What is Respite Care?
How do I arrange Respite Care?
Will I have to pay?
How long can I take a break for?
How often can I take a break?
Book early!
Take a Break Scheme
Respite Care Services are available for older people, people with disabilities and carers. Different arrangements exist for parents who need a break.
The term Respite Care generally means giving a carer a short break from the person they care for - and the cared-for person a short break from them! Respite care also applies to people who may not have a carer, but who need a break from their home circumstances. Respite care can be provided either in your own home or in residential or nursing care homes.
If you think that you, or someone you care for, needs a break then you should ask your local Social Services office for an assessment of need.
This will involve discussing your needs with you to see if you are eligible for our support. After agreeing your needs, they will be matched against our Eligibility Criteria Checklist 
(55KB - pdf help) to ensure we are directing our services to those people who need them most. Whether or not you meet our eligibility criteria we can help you arrange respite care for yourself.
If you are eligible for respite care this will become part of your Care Plan which can be reviewed if your circumstances change.
Everyone has to make a contribution towards the cost of respite care; how much you will have to pay will depend on your income and savings, and we will undertake a financial assessment to determine that amount. See How much will I have to pay?
Respite Care breaks can be for as short as a day or two, or as long as a month. The exact length of breaks you are entitled to will be agreed as part of your Care Plan, based on your particular circumstances. (e.g. a respite care break can be arranged while a carer attends an important event like a wedding, or for a few weeks while they are on holiday).
This will be determined by your assessment, e.g. from an afternoon a month for fishing, or a couple of weeks a year away! Most carers are able to take a break a couple of times a year.
Please note that respite care breaks in residential homes can be difficult to arrange at short notice and places fill up in advance at busy times of the year such as Christmas. If you want to plan some respite care, particularly away from home, please give us as much notice as possible.
This is a county wide subsidised scheme which gives carers of adults a single route to arrange day time or evening breaks from their caring responsibilities. The breaks are provided by a care worker coming to look after the cared for person so the carer can have a break. The care worker may stay in the carers home in a 'sitting' arrangement or may 'escort' the cared for person out of the home for a social activity. For further informtion on this scheme please see our factsheet. (102KB - pdf help)
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