You might need an hour or two for an appointment, a regular afternoon each week, time to go to work or simply the chance to get out and do something for yourself. Or there may be a particular occasion coming up, such as a family wedding, when you need someone you can rely on to provide care while you are away.Abbey Care can provide regular or occasional respite care, giving you time away while the person you care for has care and company from one of our care workers.

They may prefer to spend the time at home, perhaps having a cup of tea and a chat, watching television or doing something they enjoy. Or they might like to go out with their care worker for a walk, some shopping, lunch or a trip somewhere they enjoy.

Personal care, meals and medication can also be included where needed, so the visit can be planned around the individual, their usual care and how they would like to spend the time.

Some families arrange respite at the same time each week or fortnight. It might give a husband or wife time to go to work, play golf, meet a friend, attend an appointment or simply carry on with something that is part of their own life.

For other families, respite is something they need occasionally. There might be a wedding or another family event coming up, an appointment that will take several hours, or simply a particular day when some extra help would make things easier.

Respite can be a short visit or several hours of care. The arrangement will depend on how long care is needed, the support required and how the person would like to spend the time.

Abbey Care does not provide live-in care, but we can provide respite alongside a live-in carer from another care provider. Live-in care arrangements often include regular breaks for the live-in carer. We can provide care during those periods so that the person continues to have the support they need while their usual carer is away.

A respite visit can include the same kinds of support we provide during other care visits.

Depending on the person's needs, that might include personal care, help with medication, preparing a meal or support with mobility, as well as companionship and time spent doing something they enjoy.

Before respite care begins, we find out about the person's usual routine, the support they need and how they like that support to be provided. We also talk about what they enjoy and how they would like to spend the time.

For some people, a familiar routine at home is exactly what they want. Someone else might look forward to getting out, having lunch somewhere or visiting a favourite place.

The care is planned around the individual, rather than expecting every respite visit to look the same.

For someone who hasn't had care before, regular respite visits can also provide time to get to know a care worker and become comfortable with having support.

We aim to provide familiar care workers where we can. As that familiarity develops, it can make future visits feel more natural and can be particularly helpful if the person needs more support later.