Getting time for yourself can make a big difference to you and the person you care for.   

Making time for yourself isn’t always easy and a lot can depend on the person you care for, their needs and your own circumstances.

Asking for help from family or friends

One idea is to ask family, friends or perhaps a neighbour, to provide a short amount of care. This could be a couple of hours a week to give you time to relax or catch-up on seeing friends.

Carers' support groups exist in many parts of the county where you can meet with other carers and share your concerns with others who understand the difficulty of being a carer.  Your local carer support worker will be able to tell you where your nearest support group is.

Short-term care

Devon provides a wide range of services to give carers a break. With some services, the choice may be more limited or there may be a wait. It is important to find out the availability of services and how to access them.  Ask at your local social services office or contact your local carer support worker.

Here are some services which may help you to take a break:

• day-sitting service to allow you to do shopping, visiting friends and other activities
• night-sitting service to allow you to get a full night’s sleep
• a short-term stay in a residential care home for the person you care for
• arranging for the person being cared for to spend time in a day centre
• the opportunity for the person being cared for to go out with others, allowing you have time to yourself at home

Find out more

• Here is a link to further information from Directgov - Health and Taking a Break

Also on devon.gov.uk

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