Sort summer respite care before it's too late

A few months ago it seemed like it would never arrive. A glimmer of hope so far away on the distant horizon. We’ve put in the hours, made the hard yards and now all we ask for is a well earned break. Everyone needs it. No matter where you’re going, the summer holidays are a time of relaxation, rejuvenation and recreation. Some of us have booked holidays well in advance, giving our future-selves something to look forward to: scenery spotting, surf searching, beach bathing and spirit sipping. But if you’re a carer for an elderly loved one, it might be a completely different story.

To get the best deals on offer and ensure we don’t miss out, it is often the case that we book our holidays well in advance. But why don’t we do the same for respite care? Booking respite care is sometimes an afterthought which, in fairness, is completely understandable. Organising a family holiday is hard enough, but add in a full-time job and caregiving responsibilities for an elderly loved one and it’s more than likely that booking respite care can slip your mind. It is essential to start thinking about respite care today to ensure that your loved one is safe and you can enjoy your holiday.

What is respite care?

Respite care is a type of service that allows carers a much needed break from caring. The amount of time can be hours, a day or potentially weeks at a time. This respite is essential for carers to recharge and unload some of the pressures of caring from their day-to-day lives.

Some of the different types of respite care include:

• A care home that offers respite care. This is ideal for slightly longer stays.
• Adult day care centres. As the name suggests, this respite is usually hours or a day at a time.
• Home care. Depending on how independently your elderly loved one is, having someone check in once or twice a day at home might work well.
• Short term live-in care. This is where a carer moves into your home whilst you’re away for round the clock care from the comfort of home.

And remember, it’s very important to note that minimum respite stays vary between providers. It’s likely that many will not provide just one week of respite care, so be prepared to expect a minimum of 4 weeks.

Why is respite care so important?

Many carers are reluctant to seek out respite care due to the feeling of guilt. This feeling is completely normal. Whether you think the care won’t be right or that you might feel resentment from your loved one, it’s always hard to relinquish the care responsibilities you provide. However, without respite, it is easy to feel the negative impacts on your career and with your mental health. You are not entitled to utilise respite care, but that doesn’t make it any less essential.

That short break can be enough to replenish your energy and ensure when you return to your care responsibilities you are mentally refreshed. Also, you may not know it, but the person you care for may benefit from a change in the care they receive as well.

And if you’re an employer or manager, getting your employees to take time off can sometimes be a struggle - especially if they have caregiving responsibilities. However, it is in the organisation’s best interest to give them all the information on respite care to reduce the chances of burnout and stress.

Why should you book respite care as soon as possible?

Respite care can be very limited, especially around the summer holidays. The area you live in may not have a lot of options and if you leave it too late there might be no space at all. With bed space limited, you may have to pay far more for care that is further away from your home or you might have to cancel the holiday you’ve had booked for months.

Respite care also takes a long time to organise. With plenty of documentation and hoops to jump through, respite care isn’t an instant transactional service. Many carers have tried and failed to organise respite care for their loved one in a timely manner. That is why it’s integral to start the process now, leaving yourself with plenty of time to fill out all the paperwork necessary to ensure your loved one’s safety.

How to organise respite care

​​The first step to arranging respite care is getting assessed by your local council.

Carers should get a carer’s assessment, while the person you’re looking after should have a care needs assessment.

You might be able to get financial support from the council, but in the majority of circumstances you will have to contribute towards the cost. Local councils will only fund respite care for people that they’ve assessed as needing it. If you want your or your loved one’s local council to pay for respite care then it’s important you both have an assessment. Even if you don’t want council funding, getting assessed is still useful, as you’ll get advice regarding which type of respite care is most suitable.

Once your assessment is completed you can book your respite holiday right away. To get started there are organisations like Revitalise and Family Fund that offer respite holiday options as well as grants.

And, if you’re looking for some special, expert, insider-info, top tips for you or your employees - here are some exclusive deals to get started:

• Mill View - Enjoy a three-week respite stay for the price of two! Offer ends on 30th June 2023. T&Cs apply.

• Sherwood Grange - Enjoy a four-week respite stay for the price of three indefinitely. T&Cs apply.

• Richmond Manor - 1 week free if they book 4-weeks respite care.

• Nesbit House - 1 week free if they book 4-weeks respite care.

• Elstow Manor - 1 week free if they book 4-weeks respite care.

• Abbots Wood Manor - 1 week free if they book 4-weeks respite care.

• All Baycroft homes - 4 weeks for the price of 3.

• All Future Care Group - £250 off when you book 2 weeks respite.

Have a great summer!