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Time out or a short break (respite)
We know that caring for someone else can be hard. Sometimes just having a short break from your day-to-day responsibilities is all you need.
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Types of respite
Respite means taking a break from caring. There are lots of respite options, including:
- Going to a carer support group or activity
- The person you care for going to a respite centre for a short time
- The person you care for staying with another family for a short time (called the ‘shared lives’ scheme)
- The person you care for getting support from a care worker at home for a short time
How to get respite
The Carers Centre in Barking and Dagenham run carer support groups and activities that are free to use. They also provide information, advice and support on a range of topics.
To get other forms of respite, the first step is normally to get a carer assessment with someone at the council. Find out more about carer assessments and contact the Adult Intake team on 020 8227 2915 or intaketeam@lbbd.gov.uk to request one.
The person you care for will also likely need to have their own care needs assessment, or a review of their care, because they will be receiving the respite care. This will help make sure that both you and the person you care for are getting the support that is right for you.