It’s only natural that you have questions

A short term respite care stay includes absolutely everything that you would expect from a longer-term stay in one of our specialist residential care homes:

• A fully furnished room in one of our well-equipped care homes, which you can personalise to help you feel at home;
• All of your meals, drinks and snacks (tailored to meet your preferences and dietary requirements);
• 24/7 individual support including overnight care, help with medication and personal care;
• Full use of all of the home’s indoor and outdoor communal areas, garden and facilities;
• Participation in as many of the home’s activities, events and entertainment as you choose;
• A warm welcome for any visitors you may like to invite;
• Utilities, linen, laundry, housekeeping and cleaning.

How you chose to spend your time in respite care is up to you – you can treat it as a relaxing break and change of scene, recovery time to help you to safely return home from hospital, the opportunity to ‘try out’ a care home before making a longer-term commitment, or perhaps the chance to meet new friends and discover new interests.

Read articles about respite care here.

A respite care break can last for anything from a few days to a few months – it really is up to you! We’re here to support you with whatever works best for you, whether you simply fancy a change of scene or are keen to try out one of our homes, or whether you need support for a particular period of time as your usual carer is taking a break.

Provided we have availability, we’re happy to accommodate whatever length of stay you need in our respite care homes.

We also offer day care packages at selected care homes across Somerset. If you are not yet ready to book care home overnight stays, but would still like to spend a day with fellow residents, enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal and experience some of the activities on offer, then day care could be the perfect solution. Please contact us to find out about our available day care packages.

Somerset Care’s book-ahead respite care solution allows you to pre-book your care home overnight stays months in advance, with just a small deposit to reserve your room and support package at your chosen care home.

This means that you are free to choose and book your respite break with confidence; booking in advance to align with family member plans, and making sure everyone has a break to look forward to. As your choice of care home isn’t restricted to last-minute availability, you will also have the maximum range of suitable options available to you, from across Somerset Care’s 22 care homes in Somerset and Devon.

Provided the individual’s needs can be safely met at the chosen respite care home, there is no set criteria for respite care. All of our care homes across Somerset offer respite care breaks, subject to availability.

We have some helpful articles around respite care here.

The purpose of respite care is to provide a short-term package of tailored care and support which meets the individual’s needs, including overnight care, within a care home environment. This can be to support rehabilitation following illness or injury, to complement care already delivered in the individual’s own home or at a day care centre, as an introduction to longer term residential care, or simply to provide a holiday with care and support included.

Respite care costs are calculated in the same way as longer-term care in a residential care home; combining fixed daily accommodation costs with the cost of delivering the bespoke care you need.

You will be advised of the cost of your stay at the time of your booking, based on the accommodation cost of your chosen care home, along with the support needs identified in your care assessment.

If you are pre-booking your stay 2 months or more in advance, you will be asked to pay a deposit to secure your short-term respite care break.

If you meet certain financial criteria, or live with identified long-term or chronic health conditions, you may be eligible for Local Authority or NHS funding towards to cost of your care home overnight stays. You can learn more in our article here.

Of course! You are welcome to invite family and friends to visit you during your respite break, and all of our homes have communal areas including lounges and gardens which you are perfect for socialising and spending time with loved ones.

Your care team in the home will be happy to support you in making arrangements to receive your visitors.

Somerset Care has 22 care homes across Somerset and Devon, all of which offer overnight care. If you need to change the date of your stay, or your care needs have changed between your booking and your stay, we are well-positioned to support you in making alternative arrangements, subject to availability.

If you have pre-booked your short-term respite break for a later date, we will reaffirm your care needs nearer the time, to ensure that you can be safe and supported to enjoy your stay.

Somerset Care’s friendly team of care advisors can support you to find and book the respite break you need.

Whether you have a care home in mind or need support in choosing the right location and support to meet your needs, our expert team will guide you through the options available, check availability and support you to get everything in place for your care home overnight stays.

Your break is reserved for you at a time of your choosing, with a care assessment carried out to confirm that your chosen care home can provide the support you need. We will reaffirm your requirements nearer to your booked break, to ensure everything is in place for you to stay safe and enjoy your time away.

Even if your care needs increase, you can relax in the knowledge that, with expert care teams able to provide everything from light help with washing, dressing and daily tasks, right through to hospital-standard, round-the-clock nursing care, Somerset Care is well-positioned to meet your changing needs and support you with the short-term respite care you need.

Anyone can be eligible for respite care, provided that their chosen care home can safely meet their care and support needs, and has availability on their chosen dates.

All of Somerset Care’s residential care homes and nursing homes offer respite care throughout the year, so we can offer plenty of choices! Our helpful enquiries team will be happy to discuss your care needs and respite break options with you. They will be able to share a range of respite care options which meet your needs and suggest alternative care if your original choice is unable to accommodate you.

Depending upon your individual circumstances and care needs, you may be eligible for financial support towards the cost of your respite care.

Respite care may be fully or partly funded by your Local Authority if you meet specific criteria in terms of your finances, or medical needs. Some Local Authorities will provide eligible individuals with a respite ‘allowance’ of a set number of days of respite care per year or will pay up to a certain value of respite care fees, which you might be asked to top up.

To find out if you qualify for respite care funding, the best place to start is by contacting the Adult Social Care team at your Local Authority, who will be able to advise if you are eligible.

If you are looking to get the maximum value from your respite stay, we also run seasonal respite care offers for selected Somerset Care residential homes throughout the year, so it’s always speaking with our enquiries team to check if there are any offers running when you book.

Respite care in a nursing home is a short-term stay complete with the tailored, expert nursing care you need.

Depending upon your care needs and circumstances, a respite care break could support your recovery and rehabilitation following time in hospital, to ensure that you can return home safely. If you are normally cared for by family members, it can also offer them a much-needed break, giving them a chance to relax, recharge, and return to simply being your loved one, rather than your carer. You and your loved ones can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that all of your needs are being taken care of.

You can also look upon respite care in a nursing home as a little holiday and change of scene, without the worry of having to arrange specialist care and support to meet your needs.

Short term respite care is a temporary stay in a residential care home, with access to all of the tailored care and support, facilities and amenities available to permanent residents.

Taking a short respite break in a care home is a brilliant way to get to know the home and residents, and experience the atmosphere, facilities, food and activities for yourself, perhaps as a stepping stone to moving in as a long-term resident.

A respite stay can last for anything from a few days to a few months and can be a really helpful option if you normally receive care in your own home, perhaps from a family member, but they are away or unable to support you for a period of time.

A day care centre for the elderly provides specialist care and support to meet the individual needs of older members of the local community. As well as being a physical meeting place, day care provides regular opportunities to socialise with new and existing friends, who can discover and enjoy new hobbies and interests together.

Regular day care visits often take place in a residential care home, offering an insight into daily life there, an opportunity to meet residents and staff, and a chance to sample the all-important home-cooked food. Day care can be a great option to supplement any care you may be receiving in your own home, as well as a means of connecting with your local community, safe in the knowledge that your specific care needs are being taken care of.