Respite Checklist

Supporting You And Your Loved Ones: Our Checklist To Planning A Respite Stay  

 

Are you looking for a short-term respite stay for your loved one?

Admitting you need support can be a challenging and overwhelming experience when met with infinite sources of information, providers, and processes, so - we’ve created a helpful checklist to assist you in planning a short respite stay.

A respite stay, or carers break, is an essential service in supporting you to take a well-needed rest from your regular caring duties, confident in the knowledge that your loved one’s care needs and regular routines are being adhered to. Whether you’re looking for support over several days or weeks, a short respite stay can alleviate the stress of daily caring duties, allowing you to continue the things you enjoy – such as going on holiday.

1.      Planning is key.

 Although respite is not a long-term solution, you want to be confident that your loved one will be happy and well looked after while undertaking a short stay. If you have a particular care facility in mind, it’s helpful to find out more information, request a brochure/tour and find out about availability well in advance. This will help you determine which homes you like and how they align with your loved ones’ care needs while heightening your chances of securing a spot.

(We understand that sometimes respite stays can be unplanned, i.e. if you require support after an unexpected hospital stay. While planning in advance is preferable for many reasons – our friendly staff will do their best to assist you and your loved ones when the unexpected happens)

Additional planning may include things like, labelling your loved ones clothes ahead of a short respite stay. 

2.      Research

It’s important you carry out research on any care facilities prior to a respite stay - this should give you peace of mind that you are making the right decision. Regulatory bodies, such as the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, have up-to-date inspection reports available on their websites for all care homes in scotland. This paired with information from third-party care review sites such as carehome.co.uk – provide a good overall picture of what you might expect from the care home you are considering.

3.      Type of Care

An assessment should be completed to determine whether your loved one’s needs can be met within the specific home. After you enquire to a care home, a representative from the home will visit you to carry out a care assessment. This is a great opportunity to meet you and your loved one in person, talk through any concerns, and asses the individual needs to make sure that the care home can meet your care and wellbeing needs in the best possible way.

You may also have an allocated care manager through your local authority. They will also be able to support you through the process of finding the right respite care for you.

 

4.      Personal Connections

We would always encourage you to plan a respite stay alongside your nearest and dearest – and that the decision-making process includes the person receiving the care. You should also determine an emergency contact at this stage, someone your loved one would be comfortable with during your absence. During any stay at a Renaissance Care home, we aim to maintain connections with the people and places that matter most to the person. That’s why we’ll work with you to gather as much information as possible so help make your stay comfortable, meaningful and enjoyable.

5.      Funding

Have you considered what funding streams are available to you concerning respite? You may be eligible for local authority funding to help pay for respite care (your care manager can inform you if this available to you); alternatively private funded placements are also available.

Funding your respite care may seem daunting, therefore our care home managers are more than happy to assist with any funding-related questions.

If you would like more information on the respite services offered by Renaissance Care, please get in touch. We take great pride in getting to know you and your loved ones’ - likes, dislikes, routines, and hobbies. We want to get a clear picture of who you are and what you do, and are pleased to integrate our people-first, personalised approach into every care plan.