Respite care for carers is essential to maintain their health and well being.
Caring for someone is demanding enough but caring for someone with dementia poses greater challenges on a daily basis. Taking some well needed time out is vital to allow carers to relax and recharge their batteries.
NICE ( The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recommends carers of people with dementia should have access to a full range of respite and short break services. The options available to achieve this are;
- Care at home
- Care away from the home
- Holidays
Care at home
The least disruptive option for someone who has dementia when too much change would unsettle them. Perhaps a friend or relative could stay or use the services of a care agency, although this would be expensive.
Care away from the home
Options here include short term care in a residential care home, nursing home or hospital depending on the level of need. If they are more independent and require less care a residential home offering no nursing would be sufficient. If they have incontinence issues then a nursing home will care for your loved one better and allow you to relax whilst away.
Holidays
There are several options here. Some types of of holiday or holiday accommodation cater for people with dementia if they can still cope alone. There are alternative ones where you both go together but care is provided by others Richmond Villages offer this.
Saga provide hundreds of free holidays for carers through the Saga Respite for Carers Trust. The Carers’ Support Centre is a charity offering affordable caravan holidays for either alone or with the person they care for. Try Carers.org The Carers’ Trust is in partnership with the Crossroads Care scheme, local independent charities that provide respite care, regular short breaks and support for carers.
