Understanding Respite Care

Understanding respite care -It provides alternative care for a person with a disability. This means you can have a break while the person you care for is looked after by someone else.

It lets you take time out to look after yourself and helps prevent you becoming exhausted. Some carers take a short break for a holiday or a study break.

Taking care of the carer

If you are a carer you need to look after yourself in order to be able to care for someone else. Being a full-time career can be hard work and it’s easy to become isolated, therefore its important to take a break.

Seek Help

Seeking help does not make the carer a failure. Respite care benefits the person with a disability as well as the carer.

Respite care may be based in the community or in an institution. It can be provided at several locations around each country. In some cases, by your Health Service and in others by local or national voluntary organisations.

The average time in a respite home is two weeks. Longer stays may be possible in some circumstances. Respite care is organised through your public health nurse or family doctor (GP). It can be difficult to get respite space at short notice.

Planning and Preperation

It’s very important to reserve a place so plan a few months ahead. In case of emergency you should do your homework on respite homes at your earliest convenience.

In Ireland The Carer’s Support Grant (formerly called the Respite Care Grant) is an annual cash payment made by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to certain carers for use as they wish.