What is respite care and how much is it?

Respite care is temporary care for someone needing extra support after hospital discharge or an illness. Respite care can also be for the carer giving them a much needed break from looking after a family member or friend.

It tends to be a planned short stay if the carer has booked a holiday. Or it may be short notice due to an emergency, such as a fall.

There are a number of options for respite care. This includes extra support at home, 24 hour live-in care and short term residential care.

For those needing a lot of care and support or nursing care, a temporary stay in a care home may be the best option.

Types of respite care in the UK

Temporary residential care

Short-term stays in care homes or nursing homes offer 24/7 care and support. This option gives peace of mind to caregivers who need a break from caring or are going on holiday. It also gives more support to someone who has had a fall or is recovering from an illness and needs care while they recover and recuperate. There are also care homes offering specialist care for people living with dementia or a disability who need care from specially trained staff.

Temporary home care

Most home care agencies offer respite care or temporary home care. This is where care workers visit people in their own homes giving extra support with personal care such as dressing and washing and help with preparing meals. They also help administer medication and see to any medical needs.

Day centres

Day centres are places where people needing a safe environment can go and take part in activities offering social interaction and therapy.

Sitting and befriending services

Sitting services are often run by charities. They involve trained volunteers visiting the person in their own home and sitting with them for a few hours. They may do things like prepare a meal for them or take them out. It is not usual to provide personal care.

Benefits of Respite Care

There are huge benefits to temporary care

1. For the caregiver
   • Lessens stress: Regular breaks from caring can help stop mental and physical burnout. It also will enable the caregiver to recharge.
   • Better health: Time off away from caring allows caregivers to look after themselves. This is very important
   • Improves relationships: Quality time away from caring someone can improve their relationship with the person they are caring for. It also impacts on family dynamics.
2. For the person receiving the care
   • Social interaction: Interacting with new people can improve someone’s social skills and give them renewed interest is what is around them.
   • Participating in activities: Taking part in activities can be stimulating and and help with a person’s wellbeing.
   • Continuity of Care: Respite Care will make sure that the person needing care will continue to get the essential support they need.

How much does respite care cost?

You may be able to get some financial help with paying for respite care. But if you need to fund it yourself it is important to be aware of the potential costs.

Care homes tend to charge more than standard prices for respite residential care, with the average price for residential care of £1,266 a week increasing by 10-15% for respite care.

A nursing home costs on average £1,528. Again many care homes will charge a higher price for short-term nursing care.

Home care in the UK ranges in price from £23 to £34 an hour. Again some care providers may charge more for respite care.

Arranging respite care

To arrange respite care, you can either contact a nearby care home by yourself to check availability or ask your local authority for support.

Care needs assessment: Contact them and ask for a Needs Assessment. Your council will be able to recommend a care home and tell you whether they will contribute towards the costs.

They will look at your loved one’s savings, income, stocks and shares to determine if they should help with the fees. This is known as a financial assessment or means test.

It is important to note that because the care home stay is temporary, the value of your loved one’s property will not be taken into account.

Carer’s Assessment: Carers are also entitled to have an assessment as they may be entitled to financial help with certain benefits and respite care.

Direct Payments: Local authorities may provide direct payments to allow carers to sort out respite care themselves.

NHS Continuing Healthcare: People with complex medical needs may be eligible for respite care through Continuing Healthcare funding.

Charities and Voluntary Organisations: Many organisations such as the Carers Trust offer grants and subsidies to help cover the cost of respite care. Some charities also offer free sitting services.

You can read about more about financial help for respite care on How to pay for respite care.
 

Respite care helped Joy get better and regain her confidence

Joy went to stay at Priors Hall care home, in Corby, Northamptonshire, after a stay in hospital.

She said: “I was down in the dumps coming out of hospital, I lost a lot of confidence and was afraid of everything. My daughters needed respite from looking after me, so they looked at two places and chose Priors Hall. I’m glad they did!

“I have been able to feel better gradually by staying at Priors Hall, and the carers can’t do enough and the food is fabulous. Claire the lifestyle manager has been so helpful with arranging entertainment and getting me doing things I haven’t done in such a long time.”

Finding a home near you

To find a good care home near you, visit carehome.co.uk and enter your location. Use the respite care filter to see what care homes in your area offer respite care.

You will also be able to read what other local people who have used the service have to say about it, which will give you valuable insight and help you make a decision.

If you have found a care home that you like but your local authority is arranging the respite care, they may have chosen a different care home. If this is the care, you can ask to pay a top-up fee to ensure your loved one moves into the care home of your choice.