Respite at Home
Respite Care doesn't have to mean a week in a care home, it can mean putting arrangements in place for care to be provided at home, to allow the main carer to take a break for anything from an hour to a week or more.
Try to accept offers of help from friends and family as much as possible, even if it seems unnecessary in the early stages of dementia. The more involved friends and family can be, the easier it will be for them to spend time with the person with dementia. If the main carer refuses early offers of help they may find that friends and family do not feel confident to relieve them of responsibility from time to time as dementia progresses.
Respite doesn't have to be only an occasional thing; it may mean increasing care provision so that the main carer can get out of the house every day, or attend a group once a week, for example.
Volunteer Befrienders
Volunteer Befrienders are people who have volunteered to come and be with the person who is cared for, while their carer takes a break for an hour or two. Further information is available from the Carers Centres.
Relief to Carers Service
The Relief to Carers Service (registered with CQC for domiciliary support), is part of the Council Social & Community Services. Trained care staff provide support to people who would be at risk if left on their own for more than a short period of time, to allow carer/s to have a break.
A few hours can be allocated each week to enable the carer to take a break (average is 3 hours per week). Where possible Relief to Carers try to allocate the same care assistant at each visit, in order to provide continuity. Occasional longer or overnight breaks may also be available.
Charges for the Relief to Carers service depend on the financial circumstances of the person being cared for; they will be financially assessed.
Due to limitations on the availability of this service, referrals are normally only accepted from Social and Community Services Care Managers.
Arranging Home Care
Home care visits are provided by many different care agencies. These may be arranged by a Social & Community Services Care Manager, following a Community care assessment, or arranged direct with the agencies if someone is self-funding.
Inspection reports for care services are available on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website.
Contacting Care Agencies Privately
Care agencies can be approached directly to obtain care for people who are self-funding. Different agencies will vary in the services they offer (e.g. night care), their charges, and area covered: so you may need to approach several agencies.
The Care Quality Commission has an up to date list of home care agencies that can be searched for by postcode enables you to search a set radius from your home. If you would like to talk to someone about home care agencies please call CQC general enquiries on 03000 616161
or email enquiries@cqc.org.uk.
Live-in Carers
Some home-care agencies can provide live-in carers, which may provide an alternative to going into a Care Home for some people with dementia, or reassurance if family is going away.
Agencies providing live-in paid carers can be found by using the United Kingdom Home Care Association search facility, or telephone 020 8288 5291 during office hours or email its helpline on helpline@ukhca.co.uk.
Crossroads
Crossroads provides a service to support the person with care needs and their carers. A Carer Support Worker talks to the carer to find out what support is required and when, in order to give the carer some time to themselves. Trained care workers then give personal/social/domestic care at home. This can vary from a one hour visit to live in care, and is tailored to meet the individual needs of the carer and the cared for person.
Crossroads take private referrals as well as through GPs, CPNs, Care Managers, etc.
Help at Home Support Service
"Home Helps" - in the tradition of undertaking general housework, laundry, and meal preparation, whilst keeping a watchful eye - are not available through all County Councils. For many people with dementia this has left a big gap in care provision, which Guideposts Trust is now trying to fill with the Help at Home Care and Support service.
Help at Home provides practical assistance to help people maintain independence in their own homes. Support depends on what the individual requires, but personal care (washing and dressing etc), is not currently provided.
The range of services Help at Home offers includes:
- Light cleaning duties
- Preparing a light meal
- Assisting with laundry
- Providing carers with a short break
- Providing a day, evening and night sitting service
- Assistance on hospital discharge
- Shopping
- Collecting pensions/prescriptions
- Assistance to attend appointments
Guideposts Trust’s Care at Home Service provides specialist domiciliary care for people with dementia.
