Respite care is any sort of help and support that allows you to take a break from the responsibility of caring for somebody else. Examples of respite care are listed below.

• Residential respite care is where the person you care for goes away to live and be looked after by somebody else for a while.

• Emergency respite care is when care is provided if you are unable to fulfil your caring responsibilities due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness.

• Domiciliary care is where somebody comes into your home and takes over some of your responsibilities for a few hours.

• Day centre care is where the person you care for spends time at a centre while you have a few spare hours to yourself.

What is a carer?

When local authorities and other government organisations talk about carers they do not mean someone who is paid to provide care as part of a contract of employment, such as a care worker or care staff. Carers are usually people who look after a relative or a friend who needs support because of their age, a physical or learning disability, or a health condition. This includes mental health conditions. For example, a carer could be a parent with a child who requires additional help due to a long-term health condition. Why is respite care important? Although it may be unpaid, caring for somebody can be a full-time job. And, like any job, you sometimes need to take a break. You may feel guilty or apprehensive about taking a break from the person you are looking after. However, it is important to remember that if you go too long without a proper break you may become ill, anxious or depressed, which can make life more difficult for you and the person you are caring for.