Leaflet 7 - Breaks From Caring

Caring can be a demanding job, sometimes with long and stressful hours. You may need to have a break, some time for yourself, away from the person you care for.

The benefits of having some time to yourself can be enormous: allowing you to catch up on sleep, visit friends, do some shopping or just relax.

Remember that the person you care for can also benefit from a change of surroundings, a new activity and a chance to meet new people.

What types of short breaks are available?
Short breaks (often called 'respite care') can be provided for a few hours, a day, a night or for a number of days or weeks. It can be a one-off or organised on a regular basis. Someone may come into the home or the person you care for may spend time away from their home.

This section explains some of the short breaks services available in Gateshead.

How can I get a break?
There is always a heavy demand for short breaks and it is best to try and organise them as far in advance as possible.

There are a number of ways of arranging a break, this depends upon:

• The health of the person you are looking after
  
• The financial position of the person you are looking after
  
• The kind of break required

You could contact

• Community Based Services: either contact the Social Worker already involved in the person's care, or speak to the Duty Social Worker. You, or the person you care for, will need to have an assessment by Community Based Services. (See Section 2 - Carers' rights) If it is decided that either of you need a break, a Social Worker will discuss the various options with you
  
• The GP of the person you care for: the GP may be able to organise a break if the person you look after is considered to need medical attention. They may be able to attend day care within hospital or book in for a longer stay in a hospital. This would give you a break from caring
  
• One of the private or voluntary agencies direct: if the person you care for has enough money to pay privately for home care, residential or nursing home breaks
  
• Friends or family: would anyone be prepared to sit with the person you care for? Perhaps they would be willing to stay overnight occasionally or help with ironing, cooking or shopping?

For further information on short breaks, such as which organisations provide them and what is available:

Contact Gateshead Carers Association or Community Based Services
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Is there a cost?
There are charges for some of the services provided or arranged by Community Based Services in the home or at day care.

If breaks are arranged through Community Based Services, a financial assessment will be carried out on the person you care for (carried out at the same time as the community care assessment). The person you care for may be expected to contribute depending upon their financial situation. However, they will be given full details of any charges before deciding whether to take up the service.

Direct Payments can be used to finance short breaks. (For further details about Direct Payments see Section 4 - Money Matters)

Breaks provided by the NHS are free of charge, but limited to people who need medical attention.

If you organise the break privately, you will have to pay the full cost charged by the organisation. Charities and trusts may be able to help with the costs. (See Section 4 - Money matters)

Types of short breaks

Bringing care into the home

Domiciliary Care
Domiciliary care, provided by Community Based Services, is available if the person you care for has difficulty doing certain tasks. Home care staff can do some practical tasks in the home, which can give you time to have a break. They can provide care for the person you are looking after and relieve you from the responsibility of caring for a while.
(See Section 3 - Help at home for further details)

Contact The nearest Community Based Services office
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Gateshead Crossroads - Carer Support Service
Provide regular breaks for carers of any age, for short periods of time. A fully trained, paid Carer Support Worker will take on any tasks the carer would normally do. This includes help with personal care, toileting, preparing meals and light domestic duties. Carers can have a regular or occasional service; it is available all year round.

The service is free and, if the carer is assessed by Community Based Services as needing a break, there is no limit on the number of hours that can be provided, subject to availability of workers.

Contact Gateshead Crossroads
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Gateshead Alzheimer's Society - Carer Support and Sitting Service
Caring for someone with dementia can be an isolating and lonely experience. The Carer Support Worker offers carers, and former carers, of people with dementia, emotional support, a listening ear, advice and information. They also keep in contact by telephone and through home visits.
They run a carer support group and a male carer group. Contact the Society for more details.

The Sitting Service allows carers to have a break. Trained volunteers sit with people with dementia for a few hours at a time. The volunteers offer company and basic care but do not carry out any domestic or personal care services. All services are free of charge.

Contact Gateshead Alzheimer's Society
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Shaw Project
Aimed at people (aged 16 to 65) with a learning disability or mental ill health. The Project provides home care, short breaks and day care. They can also offer 24 hour residential care.
There is an hourly charge but Community Based Services may contribute if the person you care for is assessed as needing a break.

Contact Shaw Project
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Marie Curie - Nursing Service
Offers home nursing care for people seriously ill with cancer, and provides support and a break for the people caring for them. The service is available throughout the day and night.
The service is free of charge.

Contact the persons GP or District Nurse who will make any necessary arrangements.

Home Care Agencies
There are a number of private Home Care Agencies offering personal care. A list can be obtained from Gateshead Carers Association.

Contact Gateshead Carers Association
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Services away from home
There are a range of facilities in Gateshead, including day centres, lunch clubs and day hospitals. They offer a variety of social, educational and recreational activities, and gives the person you care for a change of scenery and an opportunity to meet new people. They also give the carer a break.

The majority of the day centres offer lunch, and several can arrange transport for people using the service.

Day centres may be run by Community Based Services or by voluntary or independent organisations, including churches and community centres. In addition, a small number of private residential homes offer services which are available through the day.

Community Based Services provide services for children with disabilities, adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or mental ill health and older people.

A community care assessment will have to be carried out to find out if day care is appropriate for the person you care for. For more information on assessments, see Section 2 - Carers' rights.

Gateshead Health NHS Trust provides some out-patient services where people can be cared for during the day, for example, people with dementia or mental ill health.

Age Concern can also provide you with information on day centres and lunch clubs for older people.

Gateshead Carers Association can give further details of day care which may be available.

How to apply

• Contact Community Based Services who will carry out a community care assessment to decide if the service is appropriate for the person you care for. They can tell you where the centres are and what they do. They may also be able to help with transport
  
• GP's, District Nurses, Health Visitors or Community Psychiatric Nurses may also have details
  
• Contact the day centre directly, if you know of one, to see what services are offered and whether it is suitable

For contact details of the above, see Section 13 - Caring contacts.

Any charges?
There are charges for some of the services provided by Community Based Services and private organisations, which the person you care for may have to pay towards. They will be told exactly what the cost will be before taking up the service.

If the service is organised privately without Community Based Services being involved, then the full cost will have to be paid.

There is no charge for services provided by the NHS.

Breaks away from the home
Residential care homes, nursing homes and hospitals provide short breaks for periods of a few days to a few weeks.

For some people this can be the first step before a permanent move, for others it allows a break for the carer and the person they care for, enabling them to continue to manage in their current home.

Breaks away from the home can be planned in advance and the person you care for can stay as many times as they want, depending on their needs and availability of a room.

Any charges?
There are fixed costs for breaks organised by Community Based Services. A financial assessment will be carried out and the person you care for will be told how much they will have to pay.

If Community Based Services are not involved in arranging the break, then the full cost will have to be paid.

Breaks arranged by the NHS are free of charge.

How to apply
See details at the front of this section.

Breaks for children and young carers

'Home from Home' Scheme
For children aged eight and under with disabilities, Gateshead Community Based Services runs a 'Home from Home' Scheme, where children can have a short break with a local family.

How long and how often they stay depends upon the individual needs of the child. This Scheme is free of charge.

For more details,
Contact Family Support Services, Council Offices, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead NE8 4HJ
Tel 0191 433 8204

Residential facilities
Grove House offers short breaks in a residential facility for young people aged 8 to 18 with profound disabilities.

For more information,
Contact The Children with Disabilities Team at Gateshead Community Based Services
Tel 0191 433 3000

Gateshead Crossroads - Young Carers Service
Young carers are children and young people, up to the age of 18 who help care for a person at home. If you are a young carer and need a break, Gateshead Crossroads may be able to help.

The Young Carers Service offers a range of educational and recreational 'time-out' activities. You can meet new people and have fun.
Contact Young Carers Co-ordinator, Gateshead Crossroads
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Carers groups
There are a number of carers groups in Gateshead. The groups are informal and always happy to welcome new members.

Some groups have a specific interest, for example, caring for people with dementia or with mental ill health. Others are of general interest, just carers, whoever they care for, getting together.

For a list of these groups

Contact Gateshead Carers Association
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Tyneside Women's Health
Carers run the risk of neglecting their own health. It is important that you take care of yourself.

Tyneside Women's Health believes that physical, mental and emotional well-being are linked. They offer support and information to enable women to make informed choices about their own health.

They run a number of support groups and courses, contact them for more information.

Contact Tyneside Women's Health
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Gateshead Crossroads
Events Programme - Gateshead Crossroads has an ongoing programme of training courses for carers.

Leisure Support - People age 18 or over with a disability can be allocated a carer support worker to assist them to do leisure activities, this gives the carer a break.

Short Break Voucher Scheme - Carers are issued with a number of three hour vouchers which can be used individually or in blocks. These vouchers give carers flexibility and enable them to plan or participate in a special event or arrange a day away.

Contact Gateshead Crossroads
(See Section 13 - Caring Contacts)

Short Breaks information
Gateshead Carers Association is developing an information resource about short breaks: day care, help at home, leisure facilities, days out, holidays and support groups.

If you would like more information

Contact Gateshead Carers Association
(See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

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