What is Respite Care at Home?

Caring for a loved one who is dependent on your support can be challenging, no matter how special they might be to you. That’s why it’s important to make sure you take time for yourself to relax.

Respite care is when an alternative carer steps in to support your loved one when the primary carer is unavailable.

This might be for a number of reasons including if you or your loved one’s regular carer is going on holiday or is ill. We provide short-term respite care in Blackburn to ensure continuity of care until they or you return. Or, if you or your loved one are going on holiday, we can accompany you to provide care while giving you space to enjoy some quality family time.

Whatever the reason, respite care is designed to help you have peace of mind when you need time out or if your loved one’s primary carer is unavailable.

How does it work?

Respite care can mean your family member is temporarily moved into a residential care home or a carer visits them in the comfort of their own home. The latter is where Choice Care comes in.

There are many benefits to receiving respite care at home. It means your loved one can maintain their independence, with more flexibility around visits and the level of care needed.

If they have more complex needs, such as dementia, then our staff understand the importance of familiar surroundings and maintaining their routine, which can be vital for their health and emotional wellbeing.  

We also have carers trained to support those with more complex or life-limiting care needs – delivered sensitively and compassionately to support both loved ones and their families. We also work with a number of healthcare professionals, and charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie nurses, to ensure our team can provide the most effective support possible.

What does it involve?

Respite care in the home can vary depending on your loved one’s needs. It could be as simple as someone popping in to make them a cup of tea and keep them company, right through to carrying out household chores or assisting them with personal care.

Help around the house typically includes cooking, getting in the shopping, doing laundry and cleaning, while personal care can include continence care, support taking medicines and helping them get dressed and showered.

During our assessment, we’ll put together a care plan to fit your loved one’s specific needs, including managing any complex conditions, so you can rest assured we understand exactly how to make them feel safe and comfortable until their primary caregiver returns.

We also use the latest state-of-the-art technology to track all visits by our carers. This includes information on what care has been provided, anything they think you might need to be aware of, and how long they spent with your relative. This can be accessed at any time from anywhere via a mobile or laptop, to ensure you can keep any worries at bay and fully take advantage of your respite.

Don’t burn yourself out or miss out on a well-deserved holiday – if you need respite care in Blackburn, give us a call today on 01254 504905 to see how we can help both you and your loved one.