

Respite Care in DarlingtonTake Time for Yourself While Someone You Love Has Care at Home
Keep an appointment, see friends or have a break from caring. Respite care provides support for the person you look after, giving you time for your own needs and plans.

Make Room for Your Own Life
When you care for someone, making plans for yourself also means arranging help for them. Even a visit to the dentist or lunch with a friend can take some organising.
Respite care shares that responsibility for an agreed period. The person you care for has support in their own home, while you have time to do something for yourself.
What a Break Could Give You
Tell us when you need time away and what support would be needed while you're gone. Respite care could help you:
Keep Your Own Appointments
make time to look after your health and deal with personal commitments.
Spend Time with Other People
see friends, visit family or enjoy time with your partner.
Return to Something You Enjoy
make room for a hobby, exercise or an activity you've been missing.
Get Everyday Jobs Done
have time for shopping, errands or other responsibilities.
Rest
take a break without having to fill it with another task.

Know What Care Will Be in Place
It's easier to take a break when you understand how the person you care for will be supported.
Your knowledge of their routine helps with planning. At the free home assessment, talk through the help you usually give, what they manage themselves and what helps them feel comfortable.
Support is agreed with the person receiving care and written into a care plan. That gives you both a clear account of what the respite visits will include.
Common Questions
Get in touch when you know you may need a break. The care required and availability need to be discussed before dates can be agreed. If you need help at short notice, call to ask what is possible.
Tell us how often you'd like support and what time away would help you. A regular arrangement can be discussed alongside the person's care needs and availability.
Visits last at least 30 minutes. The length needed depends on the support required and the break you're looking to arrange.
Talk with them about what concerns them and what would help them feel comfortable. The free home assessment gives them a chance to ask questions and discuss the support they would want. Care is agreed with them.
You may be able to get help from your local council, depending on assessments of your needs as a carer, the needs of the person you support and financial circumstances.
These council assessments are separate from Better at Home's free home assessment.
Read the NHS guide to respite care and fundingTalk to a person
Have another question? Call 07967 742243 to talk it through.
Explore Your Next Steps
- How care startsUnderstand the home assessment and how support is agreed before care begins.See how care starts
- Personal CareExplore help with washing, dressing and daily routines for the person you support.Explore personal care
- CompanionshipFind out about company at home, shared interests and support with outings.Explore companionship

Find Out How You Could Take a Break
Tell us about the care you provide and the time you need for yourself. You can discuss what support may be possible and arrange a free home assessment.
Ring us on 07967 742243Or email admin@betterathomene.co.uk
Home care in Darlington.
