Caring for a loved one full-time can easily become overwhelming, especially if you aren’t able to take a break when you need it. Short-term respite care is a fantastic way to gain support from professional and friendly care experts when you’re most in need. However, how do you know if you, or a loved one, would benefit from respite care?
In this article, we’ll talk you through what respite care is, how to decide if you or a loved one can benefit from respite care, and what the process of organising respite care at Borough Care looks like.
What is respite care and who is it for?
Respite care, or temporary care, is a short-term form of care that enables a loved one to take a break from caring. The care involves the person who is cared for moving into a care home for a short period while the person who is caring for them takes a break. Whilst receiving respite care, the person can receive the specialist care they need while giving their carer a rest. There are many different types of respite care and, depending on the needs of you and your loved one, one type of respite care may be more suited to you than another.
Some of the main types of respite care include:
- Short-stay care: This is a short-term stay in a care home which could vary from a one-off stay for a few days or weeks, in a row, to a regular, scheduled visit for a few days each month.
- Daycare: A type of care which offers support throughout the day, including activities, socialising opportunities and personal care support
- Help from friends and family: Friends and family would help out with your loved one’s care to help give you a much-needed break from balancing full-time care with work and your personal life.
- Homecare from a paid carer: This involves a professional carer visiting to aid you with the day-to-day care of your loved one.
- Respite holidays: Similar to short-stay care, this offers specific respite care for carers who are looking to take a trip and need support in the meantime.
When is respite care needed?
Making a decision about your, or a loved one’s, care can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to care and knowing what care options are available to you. Respite care offers a short-term, and often much-needed, break from the challenges and stresses that come with full-time care. Temporary care may be needed for a number of different reasons and can act as both respite for the carer and for the person who is being cared for.
How to know if your loved one could benefit from respite care
Sometimes, it can be hard to know if your loved one might benefit from temporary care. Often, carers may feel guilty when considering putting a loved one into temporary care. However, it’s important to remind yourself that you’re doing what’s best for your loved one and, sometimes, extra support is exactly what you and your loved one need. If you’re unsure when to know if your loved one may benefit from respite care, here are a few signs to look out for:
- Your loved one seems lonely or disinterested in their favourite activities and hobbies
- There’s been a recent accident or incident that has impacted your loved one’s ability to take of themselves safely
- Your loved one needs more specialist support with a specific condition e.g. dementia
How to know when you could benefit from respite care
Caring full-time for a loved one can be difficult to balance alongside work and your personal life, and is something that should never be overlooked. Sometimes, carers need a break from caring too. When you feel like you need a moment of calm to yourself, respite care can offer the support you need in the short term. You may want to consider organising respite care for a loved one if you:
- Need additional support on a short-term basis e.g. if you’re busy, unwell or overwhelmed
- Plan to take a trip and need someone to care for your loved one in the meantime
- Think your loved one may benefit from meeting new people or spending time with others in a care home – perhaps if they’re particularly lonely
- Want to try out respite care before moving your loved one into care on a permanent or long-term basis
If you feel as though you can relate to any of the above, it may be time to consider respite care and the support that it can provide for both you and your loved one. To learn more about our respite care home facilities, speak to our team at enquiries@boroughcare.org.uk.
What steps are involved in getting someone placed in respite care?
At Borough Care, the process of moving a loved one into care on a short-term basis follows the same format as organising a long-term or permanent stay. Whilst respite care will be temporary, the care we provide is always the same high-quality standard no matter how long you’ll be staying. To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s an overview of the process of moving a loved one into Borough Care for a temporary period:
Getting in touch with our team
The first step in organising respite care for your loved one is reaching out to our team to discuss what you’re looking for. There are a few different ways to contact our team, who will always be happy to help and guide you through the process of receiving the care you need.
You can reach out to us via:
- Email at enquiries@boroughcare.org.uk
- Phone at 0161 475 0140
- Our contact page or contact form
- Our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram)
Organising your assessment
After our initial conversation, we’ll organise an assessment with you and your loved one to understand what specific care you’ll need from us. This is called a care home needs assessment, and will involve us visiting you and your loved one to ask a few questions about your physical and personal care. We’ll speak to you about how long you’d like to stay in care, what specific medical requirements you have, and what well-being support you currently have in place, and will answer any questions you have for us as well.
Moving into our care homes
When we’ve completed your care assessment and determined if we can offer you the specific respite care you need, we can organise your move into care together. Each of our residents receives a unique temporary care plan tailored to their specific needs and requirements. We’ll discuss this with you and work with you to build your plan together. If, unfortunately, we believe we’re unable to offer you respite care, due to availability at our homes or if we feel we can’t provide you with the care you need, we’ll support you in your next steps.
What to look for in a respite care provider
When choosing the perfect respite care provider for your loved one, there are a few key things to consider. The first is what type of care you’re looking for; is it a one-off short stay at a care home, while you’re on a trip? Or are you looking for a longer-term solution? Once you’ve decided what type of respite care you’re looking for, you can begin searching for the right care provider.
Some questions to ask yourself when searching for the right care home provider for you and your loved one could be:
- Is there availability at their homes? Can you move in straight away, or will it be a long wait before you can move in?
- What activities are available? Will your loved one be able to get involved in plenty of fun activities and events?
- Does the home offer the specialist services you need?
- Do you feel comfortable, and at ease, when visiting the home?
- If you wanted to visit during their short stay, is it easy to do?
Borough Care offers specialist dementia care for both short and long-term stays across Stockport and Staffordshire. Whilst we have many residents who live with us on a permanent basis, we also have residents who come for daycare, some who have visited for a week of respite care, and others who visit each month for a few days of respite.
Learn more about our respite care options
We have 12 care homes across Stockport and Staffordshire, each of which offers respite and short-stay care options for all residents. Whether you’re looking for support for a loved one who has recently had an unexpected illness, or daycare for a loved one in need of more socialisation, we’re here to support you through the process. For help and advice with organising a respite stay at Borough Care, reach out to our team at enquiries@boroughcare.org.uk.
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