Short-term respite care
Short-term respite care from trusted Care Professionals, helping families who need a break from caregiving due to illness, a holiday, life commitments, burnout, or something else.
What is respite care?
Respite care is similar to other types of home care, offering temporary support with things like personal care, mobility, medical care and more in the comfort of an older person’s own home. Short-term respite care is designed to be a short stint of replacement care when needed, to give family members or regular carers a break from caregiving duties on a fixed-term basis.
This can be beneficial for an older person, giving them a change of pace, potentially new activities to try, and allowing someone new to weigh in on the care routine to suggest any areas that could be improved upon. As well as helping the older person, short-term respite care is also designed to give regular carers a chance to rest, recharge, and come back feeling refreshed.
Why might an older person need short-term respite care?
An older person with advanced medical needs or frequent care requirements may need short-term respite care for support at home if their regular carer becomes unavailable for any reason. Regular carers may need breaks to manage personal responsibilities, improve health, go on holiday, attend an event, cover periods of high demand, or manage burnout.
Respite care allows older people to remain safe and content at home while their caregivers hit the reset button. Even without any pressing need, caregivers may benefit from taking time to themselves on a regular basis, since the Mental Health Foundation estimates 71% have poor physical or mental health. Further research shows 75% of carers in employment worry about juggling work and care duties.
Is respite care at home right for you and your loved one?
There is a wealth of evidence suggesting respite care can benefit both caregiver and care recipient. It may be beneficial for an older person if:
- They need help at home while their usual carer is absent
- They are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery
- They cannot be alone for any length of time due to a health concern
- They have dementia, and would be most content in their own home – one study found those with dementia living at home experienced higher quality of life than those in a care home
A 2016 report found that caring could result in anxiety, stress, and strain in family relationships, so if you need a break for any reason, short-term respite care could facilitate this without compromising on the quality of your loved one’s care.
How can we help?
We've helped thousands of families to stay safe, comfortable and happy at home. Whatever situation you're facing, or whatever the question is, Home Instead is here to help.
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I am very happy with the support, care and kindness I receive from all the staff of Home Instead.B.M, Client
Home Instead have been looking after my father for a few years now, without them we would not be able to manage having him living in his own home. They are always bright and cheerful and Dad enjoys seeing them.Bridget, Clients Family
My mum receives excellent care from Home Instead. They are all very caring, friendly, organised and help my mum to feel happy, safe and well cared for in her own home. The carers are very good at communicating with the office and in turn the office are great at communicating any concerns to me as situations arise.Jane, Client's Family
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How to get started arranging respite care
Arranging respite care will depend on what kind of care you need. For example, a residential care home stay requires you to contact local care homes directly, or if you need a sitting service for a few hours, charities like Age UK or an adult day care centre may be able to cover this for you, depending on the scope of care.
If you need short-term respite care in your own home, start by arranging a Care Needs Assessment with your local council, or contact a private carer or agency like Home Instead to learn more about how to choose and arrange home care, including short-term respite care. Our Care Professionals are flexible and trained in a number of disciplines, so you can feel comfortable leaving your loved one in their capable hands.
Why Home Instead?
We are proudly rated 9.6 on Homecare.co.uk, with many of our locations rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), so whether you need full-time, live-in care for a loved one, or just a few hours of respite care to keep them safe and happy while you run errands, our trusted Care Professionals have your needs completely covered. Short-term respite care is designed to support your family whether you need time off for a day out with younger family members, to catch up on work duties, or just to take a much-deserved mental health day.
Short-term respite care from Home Instead offers compassionate, high-quality care that ensures your loved one can continue to receive consistent, person-centred support, while you keep burnout at bay.
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FAQs
What is short-term respite care and how does it work?
Short-term respite care is when one of our Care Professionals steps in to provide temporary support for your loved one at home. This gives family carers time to rest and recharge, while ensuring the person receiving care continues to enjoy safety, comfort, and companionship.
How long can respite care last?
We offer flexible respite care, which can be arranged for just a few hours, overnight, or even for several weeks. Whether you need occasional help or regular breaks, our team will tailor the support to suit your family’s needs.
What services are included in your short-term respite care?
Our Care Professionals can assist with a wide range of tasks, including personal care, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and companionship. The focus is on maintaining daily routines and providing reassurance so your loved one feels comfortable at home.
How do I arrange respite care with your team?
Arranging respite care is simple – just get in touch with us or contact your local Home Instead office, and we’ll talk through your situation. We’ll create a personalised care plan that fits your loved one’s needs and gives you peace of mind knowing they’re in safe, professional hands.
Who benefits most from respite care at home?
Respite care benefits both the elderly person and their family carers. Your loved one continues to receive high-quality, compassionate support in familiar surroundings, while you have the chance to rest, run errands, or simply take time for yourself.
Diane WIlliams , Head of Quality & Standards
Before joining Home Instead, I built a comprehensive career in the social care sector, beginning in 1991 as a frontline care worker and advancing to senior leadership roles across both private and voluntary sector businesses.
Throughout my career, I have supported diverse care groups in a variety of settings, including community, residential, nursing, and secure environments. My experience spans working with older adults, including those living with dementia; individuals with physical disabilities and complex, long-term health needs; people with learning disabilities, including autism; individuals with enduring mental health challenges; individuals with current or past substance use and those with forensic backgrounds.
In 2002, I qualified as a social worker and have since maintained my professional registration with Social Work England.