Getting a break from caring
Respite care means taking a break from caring while someone else looks after the person you care for. It can be a volunteer sitting with them for a few hours, a paid carer at home, a day centre, or a short stay in a care home. Your local council or carers' centre can tell you what is available. (NHS)
This page follows NHS guidance for England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check with the care team, because the rules and forms can be different.
Signposting, not medical adviceSources checked 28 September 2026
Start with an assessment
Councils only fund respite care for people they have assessed as needing it. If you want the council to pay, you should have a carer's assessment and the person you look after should have a care needs assessment. Even without council funding, a needs assessment says which kind of respite would suit best. (NHS)
Kinds of respite care
- Sitting services: a trained volunteer keeps the person company, usually for a few hours. Often free, or a small charge. (NHS)
- A paid carer at home, regularly or for a short spell such as a week, or live-in care if the person needs 24-hour supervision. (NHS)
- Day care centres, usually run by councils or local charities, for company and activities. (NHS)
- A short stay in a care home. Space can be hard to find at short notice, but some take advance bookings. (NHS)
- Friends or family staying with the person, or the person staying with them. (NHS)
Paying for respite
Costs vary a lot, and some services are free. If you qualify for council-funded respite, the council does a financial assessment to see what it will pay. Charities such as Carers Trust offer grants, and the Turn2us website lists grants for people who cannot afford it. (NHS)
Plan for an emergency
Think about who could step in if you suddenly could not care, such as a relative, friend or neighbour. Make sure they can get in, and know what care is needed. Leave notes about medicines and any dos and don'ts where they are easy to find. (NHS)
Related pages
If you need help now
If someone's life is in danger, call 999. If you need medical help urgently and are not sure what to do, call 111 (NHS 111 in England and Wales, NHS 24 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland, nidirect explains where to get urgent help.
If someone has just died
- If the death was expected, at home
- Contact their GP. If community nurses have been visiting, call them too: they can verify the death. Outside surgery hours, contact the on-call doctor.
- If the death was unexpected
- Call 999 straight away and explain what has happened. The police will also be told, because the coroner needs to know.
Sources: NHS: when to call 999 · NHS: when to use 111 · Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust · nidirect: when someone dies at home
Sources
- NHS: Carers' breaks and respite care (Last reviewed 1 May 2026; read 28 September 2026)