Respite Care: Giving Carers a Break

Do you need a break from caring for a loved one? Respite care could provide you with the opportunity to take much-needed time out for yourself.

Respite care is one of the most important services we offer here at Bluebird Care Bromley. As professional homecare providers, we understand that whilst caring for a loved one is often a very rewarding thing to do, it can also be very difficult and stressful at times. UK statistics suggest that around 1 in 7 people is an unpaid carer. That means there are a whole army of carers out there doing an incredible job. At Bluebird Care we do our best to ensure that they have the appreciation they deserve and the practical support they need.

Caring for carers

Carer fatigue is a very real thing. Many unpaid carers don’t just look after someone, they do it whilst juggling a job and bringing up a family. These daily responsibilities can take their toll on health and wellbeing when they become too much, and carer fatigue is relatively common. After all, looking after someone else often means you forget, or simply don’t have the time, to look after yourself. Some of the symptoms that you may be suffering from carer burnout include:

• Depression and anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping or feeling unusually tired even after sleeping
• Being more short-tempered and irritable
• Over or under eating
• Physical aches and pains, like headaches and muscle pain
• Turning to substances like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine to cope

As well as affecting your own wellbeing, carer fatigue have a serious effect on both family and work life and on your ability to care. That’s why it’s so important to take a break from your caring duties when you can. However, for many carers that’s easier said than done. We know from the work we do that there are complex reasons why some people either can’t or don’t want to consider respite care. Often, carers are reluctant to entrust their loved one’s wellbeing to someone else or simply don’t have the resources to find another person to take on the role.

Help with respite care

Finding the money to pay for respite care can be a worry for many. Most people are aware that the social care budget is under strain. However, there is help out there. The Carers Trust has a wealth of information on accessing respite funding through your local council, grants, charities and benevolent funds. You can find out more here.

The other concern for many carers is trusting someone else enough to let them take care of their loved one. It’s a big step to take but if you find the right care provider, it can take a huge weight off your shoulders and give you the opportunity to rest and recharge. Not only that, but a good respite carer can also be hugely beneficial to the person being cared for. At Bluebird Care, we place a great emphasis on providing companionship alongside practical care, enabling those we support to create valuable new relationships and enjoy positive experiences.

To find the right respite care service, it’s a good idea to read impartial reviews from other customers and talk in depth to the respite team delivering the care. You need to feel comfortable that they have the skills and the personal qualities that will match your loved one’s unique needs. Once you find the right respite provider, you can make more time for yourself again – whether your breaks are occasional or scheduled regularly. At Bluebird Care Bromley, we can stay with your loved one for weeks at a time while you’re on holiday or in hospital, pop in for a few hours every week so you can go for coffee with friends, or stay for a weekend a month so you get time off overnight. Each situation is unique, so our care is tailored to each individual’s requirements.

If you’d like to know more about respite care at home, give our care team a ring for a friendly chat on 020 8315 0236 or email us at bromley@bluebirdcare.co.uk.