Respite care
What is respite care?
Respite care offers temporary support for when your normal carers are not available.
Respite care is a temporary arrangement that is offered by trained carers for numerous care types, including assisted living, residential care, types of dementia care and nursing care. It is ideal for when the regular care-giver needs a break, or you need support on a short-term basis.
At Helping Hands, we regularly provide respite care for people in varying circumstances, all fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Some of the most common instances where people need respite care are:
After an accident
Hospital discharge
Recovering from surgery
Covering a regular carer
Specialist care needed
What does a respite carer do?
A respite carer’s primary aim is to ensure you continue getting the support you need so that you can maintain your independence at home. At Helping Hands, every single one of our compassionate carers has received our industry-leading training, which means they can provide seamless home care at a moment’s notice.
Personal care
Your domiciliary carer can provide discreet help with routines such as toileting and getting dressed
Housekeeping
Your carer can help around your home with chores such as cleaning, doing the laundry and tidying up
Mobility support at home
All of our carers are trained to provide mobility support, so can help you to move around your home
Light medical support
Your carer can assist with catheter care, PEG feeding and suppositories, to name just a few
Ongoing companionship
A carer can pop round for a cup of tea or spend an evening with you watching your favourite film
Help getting out the home
Whether you want to head out into your community, go shopping or visit loved ones, a carer can go with you
Preparing meals
Your carer can prepare nutritious meals and snacks and drinks at the times that best suit you
Running errands
From picking up your prescription for you to helping with the bills, your carer can provide errand support
Start receiving respite care in under 24 hours!
Need emergency support? We endeavour to offer expert home help within 24 hours.
From the moment you call our friendly customer support team, we’ll make it our priority to ensure you get the respite support you need as quickly as possible, for a minimum seven-day period.
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See what this means for youWe are a fully regulated serviceClosely monitored by an external regulatory bodyAt Helping Hands our care is fully-regulated
Independent inspections
Audits conducted by a regulatory body to give you peace of mind that we do what we say we will do.
Fully vetted and approved carers
Our carers are vetted and checked through a robust recruitment process which complies with the regulations.
Comply with regulatory standards
We have to comply with regulatory standards to maintain our registration, meaning our customers are reassured that they are receiving a high standard of care.
Standardised training across the company
Training for all carers and staff is in line with the Care Certificate, meaning our employees are trained to a nationally-recognised standard before they work unsupervised with our customers, providing a safe and responsive service.
Helping HandsUn-regulatedThe benefits of respite care at home
Having respite care at home means you can receive continuous, convenient support in the place you love the most.
At Helping Hands, we firmly believe that home is the best place to receive the care that you need. We’ve been specialising in compassionate, person-centred home care since 1989, so it’s safe to say we’re experts when it comes to providing meaningful support that truly makes a difference. Here are just some of the many benefits of respite care at home:
Retain your independence
Respite care at home allows you to keep living life on your own terms, meaning you can continue doing the activities and routines you enjoy
Support when you most need it
Whether you’ve had an accident, are recovering from surgery or have been discharged from hospital, we’ll support you in your hour of need
Valuable rest for your normal carer
Respite care allows your normal carer to take a well-deserved break, meaning that when they return they’ll be refreshed and re-energised
Personalised support
We know that you might like things to be done in a certain way, so we’ll make sure you continue to get the type of home care you’re used to
Maintain routines and hobbies
You’ll be able to continue enjoying your favourite routines and hobbies without worrying about being left unsupported or isolated
Spend more time with loved ones
Staying at home for respite care means you’ll still be able to see loved ones whenever you wish, including visiting them with the help of your carer
Let the numbers do the talking!
Helping Hands are rated as the best home care provider in the UK.
With over 2500 official Trustpilot reviews, find out why our customers are rating our home care services so highly.
4.8 on2,500+ reviews*Data provided live from Trustpilot.com 2023Emergency respite care
Need emergency care? We can provide you with a respite carer within 24 hours.
At Helping Hands, we’ve got over 30 years’ experience in providing elderly people with urgent support at the times they need it most.
If you find yourself requiring immediate care at home, we’re here to help you out. Your local care team will generally be able to send one of our wonderful carers to you at home within 24 hours of your call, ensuring minimal disruption to your routines. What’s more, we won’t cut any corners – you’ll still receive the same exceptional support that our customers have come to expect from Helping Hands.
Call us today to arrange respite careThe different types of respite care
Respite care provides your main carer with a temporary break while ensuring your care needs are met. We offer respite care on both a visiting and live-in basis; you can find out more about each type below.
Visiting careHaving a visiting carer is a great way to benefit from personalised support at points throughout the week at the times that suit you, ensuring you’re always getting the support you need at the times that you’ll most benefit from it.
Learn moreSet your own routine
- Visiting care allows you to choose or maintain your own routines - whether that's the time you wish to get up, any meal preferences, visiting loved ones, and so much more
Flexible support
- Visiting care allows you to benefit from having a type and level of support that is fully tailored to your specific needs and wishes
Condition-led care
- Your visiting carer will proactively help you to manage the symptoms of your condition, so that you can continue doing the things you enjoy
Live-in careLive-in care will see one of our fantastic carers come to live with you in your home to provide round-the-clock support and companionship. Your live-in carer can assist around the home in a number of ways, helping you to live life to the full.
Learn more24-hour care
- With a live-in carer, you will benefit from the round-the-clock support and companionship offered by having a carer in your home
Life on your own terms
- A live-in carer will enable you to get the most out of life and continue doing the things you really enjoy, rather than worrying about maintaining your home
Handpicked carer
- We know that having a carer move into your home is a big step for you to take, which is why we'll help you find someone who shares your interests and personality
Cost of respite care
Our respite care prices will vary depending on your personal needs and location, but we’ll always make sure your costs are fully transparent and easy to understand.
Visiting care pricingVisiting respite care offers you flexible, personalised support throughout the week at the times that best suit you.
From £25.27 per hourLearn moreLive-in care pricingLive-in respite care is a cost-effective care solution that gives you round-the-clock support in the comfort of your home.
From £250 per dayLearn moreWhen to consider respite care
Respite care is ideal for times when you need short-term help. We only provide care at home, because we believe that that’s the best place to receive the support you need. Having respite care at home offers a number of benefits that you simply won’t get if you choose to move into residential care. Here are some of the many reasons why our customers opt for care at home:
Helping Hands Helping Hands careResidential care Residential careYou can remain in the comfort of your own homeYou have full control over your meal times and preferencesOne-to-one, 24-hour care from your own dedicated carerYou can continue with your preferred lifestyle and routinesYour friends and family can visit as much as they like
Helping Hands provided cover while I was away. I felt reassured that all was well in my absence, and on my return Mum looked happy and the house had been cleaned and tidied for me.Kathleen A respite care customerHow respite care can help
At Helping Hands, we know that a brilliant carer can make all the difference to your life.
With Helping Hands, you can be assured of receiving support from the very best carers available. We’re extremely selective about who we recruit to our local care teams – we’ll only ever hire candidates who possess naturally kind and empathetic personalities, and who share our commitment to providing first-rate care day in, day out.
All of our carers undergo extensive background checks before joining us, as well as receiving comprehensive, industry-leading training that equips them to provide a wide range of respite care services to people with varying needs and preferences.
Respite care for disabled young adults
A young adult living with a disability can experience many challenges that are different than those faced by older people. Coming to terms with these challenges can be quite an emotional process, particularly for those who have acquired their disability later in life. Our wonderful carers are trained in providing physical, emotional and practical respite care to younger adults (over the age of 18) living with a range of disabilities.
Arranging respite care
We try to make arranging care simple and stress-free so that we can focus on what really matters: your care needs. Speak to our team today to begin your journey.
1Speak to our team
Call our team of experts to talk through your options and any questions you may have
2Free home care assessment
Your local Helping Hands manager will visit you to discuss your care requirements
3Find your carer
We’ll help to match you with a carer who meets your preferences and has the right skills
Speak to a care professional todayBetter than a care agency
Helping Hands are a private care provider, which means that unlike an average home care agency, our service is fully managed and overseen by a dedicated team of senior carers and managers.
Locally managed care
Bespoke care plan
Fully trained carers
All carers employed by us
Your needs, prioritised
No hidden fees
Respite care FAQs
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What is respite care?
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Respite care is a temporary package of care available immediately when you need it. Whether it is planned or unplanned, our carers are able to support you with household duties, companionship and personal care.
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Are carers entitled to respite?
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Carers’ breaks are required when a regular carer takes a break from caring, allowing them to relax and take time for themselves. Here, a professional carer will take over your regular duties, giving you piece of mind that your loved one is being well looked after.
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How do you get respite care?
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If you think you could benefit from respite care, please get in touch with a member of our team who will be happy to assist you in arranging respite care; whether it is for yourself, a family member or to take a break.
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What can a respite carer help with?
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A respite carer can help you with a number of tasks, including nursing care, personal care, administering medication, companionship, general housekeeping and more. We’ll take the time to listen to your needs and fully understand your circumstances so that we can ensure your respite carer is giving you exactly the type of support that you’re looking for.
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What is the difference between respite care and assisted living?
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Respite care differs from assisted living in that it is is a temporary care solution, whereas assisted living is a permanent care arrangement.
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How many weeks of respite care are you allowed?
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Respite care can last for anything from a few days up to a month, and sometimes even longer. For visiting care, typically anything over five weeks becomes ongoing care, whilst live-in care becomes ongoing care after eight weeks. If you or your loved one do end up requiring care beyond your initial term, your local care manager will always be happy to help arrange a more permanent support solution.
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Will having a respite carer affect my carer’s allowances or other benefits?
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The basic rule is that you can continue to receive your carer’s allowance for up to four weeks in any six-month period if you have a break from caring, although there are special rules that will need to be followed. For more information, we recommend visiting the Government website.
Page reviewed by Carole Kerton-Church, Regional Clinical Lead, on June 1, 2023.
How we wrote this page
This page has been produced referencing key insights and data from external experts, trusted medical sources and our team of in-house specialists. We have worked hard to ensure that all information is as accurate as possible and reflects current consensus at the time of writing and reviewing.
