The NHS estimates that there are around 5.4 million unpaid carers in England, who provide care for a friend or family member. However, with many over 70s shielding due to coronavirus, this figure is likely to have grown over the past few months.
We understand how much dedication and commitment goes into providing an elderly person with the right care. We also know that carers need caring for too, so they can keep on doing the fantastic job they do.
This is why respite care is so important. Respite care is any care arrangement designed to give rest or relief to carers. It aims to support carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities. This is important for carers’ physical and mental wellbeing, and can even enhance their relationship with the person they care for.
There are different types of respite care available, these include:
- Day centres
- Care at home
- A short stay in a care home
- Shared Lives
- Holidays or short breaks
- Carers’ emergency replacement care schemes.
To discover what help and support is available to you as an unpaid carer, you should start with your local Council. Stockport Council has a Support for Carers webpage, to tell you more about a ‘Carer’s Assessment.’ This assessment will look at how your caring responsibilities affect your health and wellbeing and what help you might be entitled to.
Signpost for Carers is another great resource for those looking after elderly dependents. Not only does it organise support groups and offer advice, it also funds a Take A Break campaign, so local carers can access a ‘time-out’ when they need it most.
Many care homes offer a day-care service, where your loved one can spend some time enjoying the facilities and receiving personalised care, while you get some well-deserved (and worry-free) time to yourself.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic you may find day-care is currently unavailable. However, as a popular service across many of our Borough Care homes, we hope to be able to offer this to you again soon.
During day-care with us, your loved one gets to enjoy all the activities our full-time residents enjoy on a daily basis. This includes: fun activities organised by our dedicated Activities and Lifestyle Facilitators; our beautiful landscaped gardens and warm and inviting communal lounges; our delicious menus that have been specially created to give older people the specific nutrition they need; as well as the personalised care our dedicated team of carers provide to everyone ‘living their life in colour’.
To find out more about the care we offer, as well as the wide range of amenities available at our homes, visit our website or call 0161 475 0140 for more information.
