What is respite care?
Respite care is the term used for short-term or temporary care and support services, that can be provided in a residential setting or a person’s own home. Respite care allows a family carer to take a break from their usual caring duties to enjoy some rest.
According to Carers UK, over 6.5 million family carers are caring for a loved one throughout the UK. For many, it is their choice to provide care for a loved one before employing a professional at-home carer. However, looking after a family member who has care and support needs can be emotionally and physically demanding, so naturally, everyone will need a break at some point.
In-home respite care can allow a family carer to:
- Take a much-needed holiday
- Have relaxation time to ensure they are rested to care again
- Honour work commitments
- Maintain hobbies or social activities
- Stay with friends and family
- Attend an emergency or urgent situation
Respite care is a flexible care service that enables a family to understand how a homecare service would work in practice to see if a permanent arrangement would be the right care choice.
Respite care services can be used to support you if you are living with a condition that impacts your ability to live independently and need condition care. For example, respite care for older people with conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s.
Types of respite care
There are many types of respite care available, including:
- Hourly care
For those who need extra support with the tasks of daily living or clinical care at certain times during the day. Care at home can be provided from a 60-minute visit per day to as many hours/visits throughout the day as you require, one day a week or several days depending on your care and support needs. For those with complex needs, hourly care can be provided over a 24-hour period.
- Day centres
Day centres allow older people to participate in social and recreational activities in a centre-based setting for a couple of hours a day. These centres are often staffed by trained respite carers.
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"We could not be happier with our choice of care provider"
"Prestige Nursing & Care in Leicestershire have lived up to the high standards we were looking for. Professionalism and compassionate – from the management team to the carers. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who finds themselves in the same situation as us and needs peace of mind, trust and quality of care.”
Julian – Client’s Son
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"Prestige Nursing & Care has taken the pressure off us."
“They are absolutely brilliant. Always reliable and give us support we need - they’re the best. We are all part of the team. The carers are very competent and well trained.”
Jessica’s Parents
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"Thank you to Prestige Nursing & Care in East Lancashire"
“You have managed to provide a fantastic service with skilled and consistent carers over the past few years. The progress she has made would not have been possible without them.”
Robert – Client’s Husband
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"We cannot recommend Prestige Nursing & Care enough"
“We never thought that anybody would be good enough to help with the care of our disabled son. How wrong we were! We have had the same carer with us for three years now. Every member of the team is caring, professional and always go that extra mile. We would highly recommend Prestige Nursing & Care.”
Michaela – Client’s Mother
What does a respite carer do?
A respite carer will provide a range of care and support services to you in the comfort of your home, including:
- Specialist care of complex conditions, like dementia or Parkinson’s
- Expert nurse-led care
- Personal care
- Socialisation and companionships
- Domestic tasks, such as laundry, cleaning and shopping
- Meal preparation
- Rehabilitation and home from hospital
- Palliative / end-of-life care
- Overnight care
- Medications management
Competent and compassionate respite care
When you choose Prestige Nursing & Care, you can be reassured that the carer that cares for you or your loved one is expertly trained to provide the support you need, to the high standards you should expect. All carers that join us complete our induction training programme, which goes above mandatory requirements.
We adopt a bespoke approach to training that ensures our carers have the knowledge, skills and aptitude to deliver high-quality homecare that meets the needs of our clients. If a client is living with a complex condition, like dementia or Parkinson’s or has problems with mobility that mean they are at risk of falling frequently, we will make sure they are trained and supported to effectively provide the care they need.
Clinical excellence at Prestige Nursing & Care
Clinical excellence is at the heart of our culture and approach to service delivery at Prestige Nursing & Care. Our nurse-led homecare service is monitored and supported by our experienced regional nursing teams.
Our team of qualified regional nurses are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Each holds a registered nursing qualification in at least one nursing specialism, including general adult nursing, learning and disability nursing, mental health nursing and children’s nursing. They enable the planning and delivery of safe and effective complex care to our clients.
Our nurses work in partnership with our care coordinators, respite home carers, clients and families to identify specific care needs and plan the most appropriate care provision. All whilst ensuring our carers have the skills they need to deliver high standards of nurse-led care. They also provide families with ongoing advice and continual support to ensure they feel reassured about the service we provide.
Case study
Providing much-needed respite for Harry’s parents
Harry is living with learning disabilities, challenging behaviour and has significant emotional needs.
He requires intense care and support to help improve his social skills, promoting his independence and overall quality of life. Prestige Nursing & Care has been providing respite care for Harry since 2018, which enables them to continue in their employment and build their careers. A dedicated and knowledgeable team were identified to best meet Harry’s needs and provide the support required.
What can a respite carer from Prestige Nursing & Care help with?
Benefits of respite care at home vs. a respite stay in a care home
When faced with the prospect of needing long-term care and support, most people would prefer to stay in the comfort of their treasured home to receive the care they need. There are many benefits to receiving respite care at home, as opposed to temporarily moving into a care home:
- Highly-personalised, one-to-one care and support – something that is difficult to achieve in other care settings
- Familiar surroundings provide comfort for those who are living with conditions like dementia or Parkinson’s or are recovering from a stroke or receiving nursing care at home
- No rigid timetables directing your daily routines and how you live your life – at home you can live with choice and independence
- Peace of mind for families – those close to you have the reassurance that you are getting all the care and support you need in the safety of your own home
- Couples can stay together as a loving couple – if you move into a care home, you may be separated from living with your spouse or partner due to the types of accommodation available
- Maintain what is important to you in life – staying at home enables you to continue to live with your cherished pet, have all your possessions and memories around you and keep up with friends in your local community or hobbies you enjoy
- The cost of respite care at home is very cost-effective when compared with the overall weekly fee of receiving care in other residential care settings
Case study
High-quality respite care at home for Bill and Agnes
Bill has been caring for his wife, Agnes, in their own home. Agnes is 80 years old and bed bound following a stroke five years ago.
Once discharged from hospital, Prestige Nursing & Care was approached by the couple’s local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to see how they could support Bill to look after Agnes. The care package put in place by Prestige Nursing & Care meant that Agnes’s nursing care needs were being met by our highly trained carers, with oversight by our clinical experts, affording Bill a respite break from caring for Agnes full time. In supporting Bill and Agnes, our carer Joanne spends every Tuesday at the couple’s home. Bill is given back his independence, allowing him to focus on his garden and make the most of his own time.
Care management local to you
Our responsive and reliable hourly care service local to you means we can put care and support in place quickly, in many cases within 24 hours. Depending on your needs, a comprehensive assessment will be conducted by either a registered nurse or our local care expert. We can conduct the assessment at your home, in hospital or any specialist care setting, enabling a plan of care to be developed that meets all your needs.
Our approach to care planning ensures we capture all your preferences and wishes so you can live a contented life in the comfort of your own home. We take time to find the carer that would best meet your care and support needs, making sure they are closely aligned with how you wish to live your life.
Once care is in place, our local teams made up of care and clinical experts provide you, your family and your carer with an abundance of ongoing support. This gives you peace of mind that you or your loved one is receiving the very best homecare.
Finding the right respite care provider
When you are arranging respite care at home and have decided that in-home respite care is what you need, it is prudent to research which provider will best meet your needs. It is worth noting that there are differences between a respite homecare provider, who is registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and an introduction agency who are not. This means that the quality of the care they provide you will not be monitored for quality assurance.
Price of respite care
The price of respite care depends on the level of care and support you require. The overall price is determined by the number of visits and frequency of visits to you at home. Our experts will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs at your home, or in hospital if you are awaiting discharge, to provide you with an accurate estimate.
Funding and financing hourly care at home
You may be entitled to either healthcare funding, social care funding or Government funding to contribute to the cost of care at home. If you are faced with having to finance your own homecare (known as self-funding care), there are initiatives available to you. These include care fees annuities or equity release schemes that could provide the funds you need for your care and support.
Funding and financing respite care at home
Other options for funding respite care at home include:
