ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW RESPITE CARE

Caring for a relative or friend can take its toll on your own health. Here’s how to get help when you need to take a break…

Respite care is about having a break from caring. It means making arrangements so that the person you’re caring for will be looked after safely while you have some time to yourself.

If you’re caring for someone on a regular basis, you’ll need time off to recharge your batteries, to get some rest and even have time for practical things like going to your own medical appointments or taking a trip to the dentist.

Respite care can be anything from an hour a day (so you’ve got time to get out of the house for some fresh air and a walk) to a few hours a week (so you can meet a friend for cof fee or attend a class), as well as overnight or longer breaks so that you can catch up on sleep or even take a holiday.

It could be that that you’re caring for an elderly or disabled family member, someone with dementia or a long term or terminal illness. And if you’re an older carer, the physical and emotional aspects of caring can be doubly difficult. According to Age UK, there are 970,000 carers aged 80 and over in the UK, and more than three million carers aged 65 and over.

Depending on the health and needs of the person you’re caring for, you may be able to rely on a suppor t network of friends or neighbours to help out once or twice a week for a few hours. However for longer breaks, or if more personal care is needed, say help in the bathroom or giving medication, you may need to arrange specialist care.

The best place to star t (unless you’re happy to pay privately) is by asking your local council for a carer’s assessment for yourself, along with a care needs assessment for the person you’re caring for. This is usually carried out by the council’s adult social ser vices depar tment.

Sadly it’s no instant quick-fix magic wand, but it’s the first step to finding out what’s available in your area and if you’re eligible, along with any financial and emotional help including details of local carers’ suppor t groups.