Being a carer can be a rewarding and positive experience, however without breaks from your caring role, it can also be tiring and overwhelming. Breaks are essential to a carer’s quality of life and personal wellbeing.
How breaks can help
Breaks can help carers to:
- Focus on other parts of their life
- Look after their own health needs
- Connect with family, friends, and the community
- Restore balance to their life
- Rest and recuperate
Breaks can also be beneficial to the person they care for to:
- Enjoy new experiences and activities
- Have a change of scene or routine
- Connect with different people
Types of breaks
The best short break is the one that works for you and your situation. Family and friends may be willing and able to offer some occasional, or even regular, help if asked. Some options, which may involve a cost, include:
A regular break of a few hours a week could be:
- Domestic help at home with tasks such as gardening or laundry, allowing you time to access other activities or to rest without worrying about these things not getting done
- A befriending scheme, which may offer the person you care for company, and you some time to yourself
- Replacement care such as a sitting service, so the person being cared for can stay in their own home, allowing you some regular time outside the home. The shared lives scheme can be a good option that many families value
- Support to get out and about, and do things that the person enjoys, either separately or together
- Daytime support away from the home such as community groups, activities, a personal assistant, and day centres
An opportunity for overnight stays, weekend short breaks and longer breaks could be:
- Homecare arranged for a longer temporary period, or increased in frequency of visits, enabling the person you care for to stay in the familiarity and comfort of their own home
- A personal assistant to provide longer-term care, enabling the person you care for to stay in their own home while you go on holiday
- A free break, provided and funded by a charity, for you to recharge your batteries
- A family-based short break, where a family host and look after the person you care for in their own home for a period
- Respite care in a care home or care home with nursing, booked in advance for a week or two, allowing you to plan a holiday
- A supported holiday, where you can go away with the person you care for, but additional care support or inclusive activities are tailored specifically to your needs, so you can relax and enjoy yourselves together. Dementia adventure is an example of this. Supported stays in hotels are also becoming a popular option in some areas
Accessing breaks
Many breaks for carers can be accessed by carers themselves, either by taking some time out of their day or getting help from friends and family.
For some carers, additional help may be required to help them access the breaks that would benefit them. This help could be provided by the Lincolnshire Carers Service, Lincolnshire County Council’s Adult Care and Lincolnshire County Council's Children's Services:
- The person you care for may need to have their needs assessed by Adult Care or Children's Services
and/or
- You must have your needs assessed by the Lincolnshire Carers Service
Carers UK has a fact sheet called Taking a Break which has further useful information about breaks for carers.
The Lincolnshire Carers Service can provide further information and advice about taking a break.
