Free Guide: Emergency Respite Care in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet
Today, we want to share a completely free guide to emergency respite care in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet so you know what to expect and how to find help.
What is Emergency Respite Care in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet? And Who is it For?
Emergency respite care in Farnborough, Farnham, and Fleet is available to anyone who needs it. Here at Home Instead, we specifically care for adults who need respite, and so that will be our focus for this guide.
So, what is emergency respite care for adults?
‘Emergency’ or ‘urgent’ respite care is a service that provides short-term cover during unplanned situations, provided by trained care professionals. Their aim is to always provide a safe environment at short notice with professional attention while Mum or Dad convalesce or you take a carer’s break. These instances could include:
- Returning home after hospitalisation
- Sudden illness
- Urgent cover for carer breaks or illness
Depending on what you need, your respite services can cover you for day care or twenty-four-hour live-in care.
And you should never feel guilty about asking for help. If life has become chaotic and you are desperately trying to juggle Mum and Dad’s growing care needs with family or work commitments, it might be time to catch your breath. At Home Instead Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet, we believe that emergency adult care is a service built to help you do just that; that’s why we provide full respite care services in your home.
[We also need to mention here that respite care is also something you can plan for. Here’s our free guide for those situations.]
The Different Types of Emergency Respite Care and Providers
We have already alluded to two different types of emergency respite care services (day care and live-in care), now we want to broaden that to show you who can provide what and where.
There are four types of respite care providers:
- Home Care Teams: We (Home Instead) are a home care provider. We work with you to keep Mum and Dad safe at home by providing part-time or full-time cover. We can help cover their essential care and things like housework. We can also help you with round-the-clock live-in care and medical monitoring. We also assist Mum and Dad, where they can move about or do things for themselves.
- Social Care: A finite and under-resourced NHS service covering essential care for two to six weeks, primarily for emergencies where Mum or Dad need help after returning from hospital.
- Residential Care Homes: Some local providers may have room to temporarily care for Mum or Dad. Here, they will be provided with 24-hour care. You may need extra help when they return home during an adjustment period.
- Day Care Centres: These offer activities and social engagement. We recommend this option for carer breaks only, specifically during the day. It should not be used if Mum or Dad is unable to move about freely or is suffering from illness.
So, social care, residential care homes and day centres are self-explanatory when it comes to services. Social care covers essential care for a very short period, residential care offers 24-hour care for temporary respite, and day centres offer time out during the day. But what does home care offer you? Let’s take a look.
Home care options include:
- Home help and housekeeping: Everything from meal prep and ironing to grocery shopping
- Personal care: Assistance with bathing, bathroom visits, personal hygiene, and getting up from and into bed
- Overnight care: Waking night or sleep-in cover
- Daytime care: Assistance throughout the day, plus companionship care
- Condition-led care: Expert assistance for condition-specific needs like dementia, cancer, Parkinson’s, etc.
- Health and complex care: Everything from medical monitoring to stoma care
- Live-in care: Assistance available directly in your home throughout the day and evening from a care professional who will live with you during the respite cover period
Depending on your situation, you’ll want a bespoke mix of these services during the respite period. So make sure that you aren’t offered an out-of-the-box approach, as this might miss vital help Mum or Dad needs. You’ll also be looking for an indication of what a tapering-off period looks like and if lower levels of care might be required for the longer term.
From the clients we help (and published social care studies), we see that respite care in the home is far more beneficial to recovery times and a healthy return to independence. On a part-time basis, home care is also a great follow-up option for those who need a helping hand to get out and about or manage at home on their own. The elderly also benefit from companionship care for social stimulation, which you may only need a few hours weekly.
Remember: switching between emergency care and tailored long-term care should be more straightforward with one provider, so make sure you talk through options with any potential provider.
When you need more advice, we offer a free, no-obligation home visit. We’d love to show you where our home care can help. Call 01252 758 716.
But Does Accepting Home Care Respite Services Lead to Needing a Care Home? No!
In most cases, Mum or Dad will recover well enough during their respite to return to independent living, so there is no need to worry about needing a care home facility afterwards.
But in situations where clients need extra help, we have been able to provide that in the home, whether that’s continued day visits, overnight care, or a few hours of companionship every week. So ideally, you’d taper off respite care completely or swap it out for lighter services, like housekeeping or companionship care.
We understand that there is a fear that people will ‘end up in a care home’, and that can have a massive impact on the care conversation you’ll have with Mum and Dad. For many, with a proper care plan, this simply isn’t the case. So, if you need help having the care conversation, download our free guide or call us for advice (number at the top left of your screen).
Are Respite Care Spaces Readily Available in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet?
Social care will usually be limited, and your hospital and social care team can advise you on what that means and how it works.
Residential care homes also have limited facilities but may keep spaces available for local residents who need respite care. Some daycare centres may have available spaces, depending on their ratio of professionals to attendees. Enquiring with both should give you a clear idea of what’s available.
With home care from Home Instead Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet, you can be up and running with respite care in as little as 24 hours. That’s because we have a trained network of local care professionals ready to go with our one-on-one service.
For example, our care pro Ashley went to stay with Patsy to provide emergency respite care after she had a fall and fractured her elbow. Patsy’s family knew that she might be unable to cope alone with day-to-day tasks while recovering. So Ashley supports her with everything Patsy needs, from pain management and daily physio exercises to home-cooked meals and plenty of companionship and stimulation, which has helped her return to full health much quicker than expected.
Who Pays for Emergency Respite Care in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet?
The cost of emergency elderly care in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet will depend a) on your provider and b) on the duration of care. Here’s what that looks like:
- Local Authority Support: Once you have qualified via a care needs assessment (usually an online form), you can apply for assistance. This takes time and will require extensive communication with the authority representatives. If you gain approval, funds will be limited to a two to six-week cover period, and in most cases, you will have to pay for supplies, like incontinence pads.
Farnborough and Fleet: Hampshire County Council
Farnham: Surrey County Council
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC): For individuals with more complex medical needs, CHC funding may be available. You can find more information here. However, as we mentioned, social care services are underfunded and under-resourced, so not all expected services may be available in your area.
- Charities and Organisations: Local charities like Age UK or Carers Trust may offer additional support or advice. There are also charities relating to specific situations, like Macmillan Cancer Support.
- Private Payment: Many families cover partial or full costs out of pocket for emergency respite care. This is why it is crucial to consider what that care plan looks like so you don’t have a sudden and abrupt end to care, which may cause relapse. Here’s how respire care helped Donald recover until he was ready to switch to a lighter home care service.
Do You Need a Referral to Apply for Respite Care in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet?
If you are seeking funding or CHC help, then you will need a referral from your GP or hospital team. However, if you are looking for private respite care like we offer at Home Instead Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet, you just need to call and ask for help.
Our number is 01252 758 716.
What Do I Need to Take to Mum and Dad's Emergency Respite Care?
If you are using any residential care service, then you will need the following:
- Your referral letter: In most cases, your care home will have received a referral letter, but having your own copy to take with you can be helpful if paperwork gets delayed.
- Medical Information and Medications: A list of medications, allergies, and medical history may be needed alongside the current medication Mum or Dad have been prescribed.
- Personal Essentials: All of their clothing and toiletries, plus any mobility, reading or hearing aids. You may find access to mobility devices at the care home, but just in case, make sure you have your own ready (and labelled).
- Comfort Items: Books, photos, or familiar objects to ease the transition. Sometimes, care homes allow soft music in personal spaces. By easing Mum or Dad’s transition, you will help calm them.
- Care Instructions: Detailed notes about routines, preferences, and dietary needs.
If you are booking a home care respite service with us (Home Instead Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet), then aside from knowing where everything is, you won’t need to provide most of this list – we will just need access to it where it is in the home. During our onboarding, we will also discuss everything from medications, medical needs, and dietary and social requirements, and we’d like contact information for family, GPs, and hospital consultants should we need them. But as we say, we will talk through all of this in our call or home visit.
Are There Any Downsides to Emergency Respite Care?
High-quality respite care shouldn’t have any downsides; in fact, the opposite should be the case. Mum and Dad should recover well in a safe and supportive environment.
However, depending on your choice of provider, there are a few situations to consider:
1. Environmental Adjustments: When Mum or Dad is taken out of the home, they may need additional support to cope with change, which can slow recovery rates. This is particularly true if they suffer from cognitive decline like dementia.
2. People Change: Just as with environmental changes, additional people visiting the home or surrounding your loved one can also be something to adjust to. At Home Instead, we combat this with careful care and professional matching. This approach has Mum and Dad looking forward to our visits rather than worrying about them.
3. Body Deconditioning: If Mum or Dad are limited in movement and mobility throughout their respite, they may suffer body deconditioning, which can take time and effort to recover from. Depending on their medical situation, this can often happen in hospitals and care homes. We can work with your medical team to facilitate exercise for reconditioning during our respite services.
4. Planning for What Comes Next: In some circumstances, continuity of care can seem to disappear quickly. One minute, Mum and Dad have 24-hour help, and then the next minute, they are left alone. At Home Instead Farnborough, Farnham, and Fleet, we always help you plan for what’s next, whether that’s a lighter set of services or a return to fully independent living.
Local Emergency Respite Care Resources in Farnborough, Farnham and Fleet
Several care homes in the area provide respite care services, including urgent respite care placements where room allows. Check with local providers such as
Farnborough: Knellwood, Holly Lodge, Whitebourne and Camberley Manor.
Farnham: Hill Brow Residential Care Home, Pax Hill Care Home and Farnham Hill Nursing Home.
Fleet: Knellwood, Hill Brow Residential Care Home, Willow Gardens and Woodlands Residential Care.
Day Care is also possible through facilities like
Farnborough: Frogmore Care
Farnham: Aldershot Day Centre and The Hunter Centre
Fleet: Frogmore Care and Wellbeing Centre
But if you are looking for in-home respite care or emergency live-in care, we would love for you to call us. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates us “outstanding” and has several 5-star reviews.
