Planned Respite Care: Your Guide to Respite in Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham
Respite care usually falls into two distinct categories: planned or emergency. Today, we'll be sharing info on planned respite care.
So, What Exactly is Planned Respite Care?
And who is it for?
Planned respite care is a service designed to provide short-term care for individuals in instances when we can pre-empt care needs. Situations like help after a hip operation or cover while a primary carer takes a break.We can even cover seasonal respite care (like Christmas).
At Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham, we provide respite care services in your home. And we can cross over, so a) you can see our work in action, and b) we can help deliver the continuity of care your loved one needs.
While respite care is delivered to the individual with care needs, it can also support their primary caregiver by offering time away. Care breaks are essential foravoiding compassion fatigue and ill health. (We have a list of caregiver support if you need ithere).
How Does Planned Respite Care Support Specific Needs?
Planned respite care is designed to meet a wide range of individual needs. It can provide:
- Personal Care: Assistance with dressing, bathing, nutrition, and exercise.
- Medical Support: Medication management and help with mobility or specialised care for conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s.
- Housekeeping: Day-to-day chores around the home, including grocery shopping.
- Overnight Care: Waking night or sleeping night assistance.
- Social Opportunities and Companionship: We can offer activities and companionship to help keep your loved one engaged and stimulated (essential for emotional and mental well-being).
When Should You Book Planned Respite Care?
Making your respite care booking as early as possible is always helpful to your care provider, but here at Home Instead, we recognise that that isn’t always possible. And sometimes, things can change. That’s why we work with you to create a flexible but tailored care plan and ensure a smooth transition for your loved one.
Here are some occasions when you might consider booking planned respite home care:
- Before going on a holiday or a short trip.
- During busy work periods or significant life events.
- When you feel you need time to rest and recharge.
- If your regular care arrangements are temporarily unavailable.
If you need information on emergency respite care,check out our guide here.
Need to book local respite care?
Let’s talk costs
We get a lot of questions about the cost of respite care and potential funding. To help, we’ve provided as much detailed information below as possible.
Firstly, yes, the NHS may contribute to respite care costs in specific circumstances. For example, individuals with complex medical needs might qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), which can cover short-term respite care. Depending on eligibility, local councils may also provide funding for carers following a carer’s assessment.
However, bear in mind that public resources are at an all-time low, with increasing demand, so you may not have either the flexibility or full support you need. Private respite care, such as Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham, can provide a reliable alternative.
Secondly, the concept of six weeks of free care often applies to intermediate care or reablement services provided after a hospital stay. Again, this comes under social care. If resources are not available and respite is not in place, this can affect Mum or Dad’s discharge from the hospital. So it’s worth exploring your alternatives.
As to the cost of private respite care, it really depends on what you need. Call the office, and our team will help you – 01276 903106.
How long will your loved one need planned respite care? And what if their care needs increase?
When you book planned respite care with Home Instead, we will discuss our proposed care plan regarding your situation. If there are fixed needs, like covering for a holiday, then respite will be available for that term. If the situation is more complex, for example, respite for a hip replacement, then we adjust our care based on recovery.
We always aim to ease off of care dependency when that time comes so as to help Mum and Dad learn to cope with their future independence. If longer-term or permanent home care is required, we can arrange care pros to help with a range of services.
