Respite care – How can a care home support you?

Whether you are in need of care, or you are a carer who needs to organise a break, respite care offers a temporary service that makes sure people are properly looked after for a set period of time. A care home is a common setting for respite care – many homes have rooms reserved just for this purpose. So, how do you approach this type of care?

Choosing your respite care

While many people choose respite services offered by care homes, there are also options to have home-based care or to use a day centre. Your choice will depend on how long you want the respite care to last, and the level of care that your loved one requires.

It’s worth looking at all the options available to you, so that you can be confident in the level of care and the care environment, and also so that you can establish a relationship with the care home provider or respite company – this will allow you to feel confident about booking respite care in the future as well as making arrangements for your immediate needs.

Here are our tips on choosing respite care:

Visit the care homes – it’s always worth making a visit to the care homes you’re considering, rather than just choosing one online or from a directory. Directories are great ways to see what’s available in your area, and to compare facilities, prices and care types. But in order to get a really good feel for the home, you need to arrange a visit. Care homes are very used to this, and now that we are past the pandemic lockdowns, are usually open to visits as long as you follow the relevant requirements.

Check prices – respite care obviously comes at a cost, so it’s good to have a look at what’s available and set a budget. Costs will often depend on the type of care needed and the type of care home you choose.

Think about location – most caregivers will choose respite care that’s close to home. That makes sense in terms of practicality. But it may also be worth considering respite care somewhere that’s nearer other family, so that they can visit during the respite period.

Consider capability – if your loved one still has capacity to make decisions, you must involve them in choosing respite care. They have the right to make their own decisions about their health and you cannot do this for them. If they do not have capacity, then you need to make sure that the respite care offer is suitable for their condition.

Be prepared for change – quite often, a period in a respite care home can lead to thoughts of more permanent long-term care. This is a very different type of decision, so don’t automatically assume that the place you’ve chosen for respite care is the right place for a long-term move.

Respite care can be a significant bonus for both the cared-for and the caregiver. Taking the time to choose the right provider will make this a smoother process for everyone involved.