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Respite Care

Supporting family carers with planned breaks whilst ensuring loved ones receive quality, professional care

Respite Care

When You Need a Break, We're Here to Help

Caring for a family member can be one of the most rewarding experiences, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. If you're feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or simply need some time to recharge, you're not alone. Millions of family carers across the UK face these same challenges every day.

At Living Developments, our respite care services provide you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is receiving excellent professional care whilst you take the break you need and deserve. Whether it's for a few days, a week, or longer, our respite care allows you to rest, spend time with other family members, or simply focus on your own wellbeing.

Need respite care support? Contact us today to discuss your needs and arrange a visit to one of our care homes.

Respite Care

Why Choose Our Respite Care Services?

✓ Professional, Compassionate Care

Your loved one receives the same high-quality care as our permanent residents, delivered by experienced staff trained in person-centred care approaches.

✓ Seamless Transition

We work closely with you to understand your loved one's routines, preferences, and needs, ensuring their stay feels as comfortable and familiar as possible.

✓ Flexible Arrangements

From weekend breaks to extended stays, we offer respite care that fits around your schedule and caring responsibilities.

✓ Peace of Mind for Families

24-hour professional supervision means you can truly relax knowing your loved one is safe, supported, and well-cared for.

Respite Care

Benefits of Respite Care For Family Carers

Rest and Recovery: Taking regular breaks helps prevent carer burnout and maintains your physical and mental health, ensuring you can continue providing care long-term.

Time for Yourself: Respite care gives you precious time to focus on your own needs, whether that's medical appointments, social activities, or simply relaxing at home.

Relationship Maintenance: Spend quality time with other family members, maintain friendships, or strengthen your relationship with your partner without the constant demands of caring.

Practical Benefits: Use respite care to attend important appointments, handle financial matters, or take care of household tasks that are difficult to manage whilst caring.

Our Respite Care Services

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Residential Respite Care

Professional care in a homely environment when you need a break

Our short-term respite care provides all the benefits of residential care for temporary stays:

  • Comfortable accommodation in well-appointed rooms with en-suite facilities
  • Nutritious meals prepared by our catering team with dietary requirements catered for
  • Social activities and entertainment to keep residents engaged and stimulated
  • Personal care support including assistance with washing, dressing, and medication
  • 24-hour professional supervision ensuring safety and wellbeing at all times
  • Healthcare coordination with GPs and other medical professionals as needed

Perfect for planned breaks, holidays, or when you need time to recover from illness or attend to other family matters.

Dementia Respite Care

Specialist support for people living with dementia and their families

Caring for someone with dementia presents unique challenges. Our specialist dementia respite care includes:

  • Secure, memory-friendly environments designed specifically for people with dementia
  • Specialist-trained staff who understand dementia care and communication techniques
  • Structured daily routines that provide stability and reduce anxiety
  • Meaningful activities tailored to individual abilities and interests
  • Behavioural support for managing challenging symptoms with patience and expertise

Family liaison keeping you informed about your loved one's wellbeing during their stay

Respite Care

Benefits of Respite Care For Your Loved One

Professional Care: Access to qualified care staff, proper equipment, and structured routines that may be difficult to provide at home.

Social Interaction: Opportunities to meet new people and participate in group activities, reducing isolation and loneliness.

Change of Environment: A temporary change of scenery can be stimulating and enjoyable, providing new experiences and perspectives.

Assessment Opportunity: Respite stays can help assess changing care needs and explore options for future care arrangements if needed.

TESTIMONIALS

What people say about us...

My husband is a resident and I couldn't be any more grateful for the help and support provided to him. The home is beautiful and clean. The staff are wonderful and friendly and take great care of my husband.

The Willows

Wife of Resident

I cant speak highly enough of all the staff – from the carers, the cooks, cleaners and management. Fantastic residential care home. Staff are kind and caring, working to a high standard where the residents needs always come first. The home provides proper care not just attending to basic needs. Residents have a great social life both inside the home and outside making the most of the local facilities.

The Millfield

Daughter of Resident

Lovely home, friendly & helpful staff, just the right amount of informality. Staff turnover is very low which in itself speaks volumes. Lots going on for residents to join in if they wish, and the rooms & grounds are excellent. Mum settled quite quickly & is now quite happy at The Willows. Very happy with the choice we've made. Would recommend

The Willows

Son of Resident

I cannot praise the management and staff enough. She was made so welcome and felt safe, cared for and happy during the time she spent there. Everyone was friendly and helpful not only to mum but to the family and mums little dog who visited her most days. Highly recommended, thank you to everyone for the care you showed to my mum.

Elmtree House

Daughter of Resident

My mother moved into The Willows in October 2024 and has now been in for a month. The staff and management have been excellent and extremely caring and professional. They have gone above and beyond to help my mother settle into her new home. I can't recommend The Willows highly enough.

The Willows

Son of Resident

Respite Care

How Our Respite Care Works

Planning Your Respite Care

Initial Consultation: We begin with a detailed discussion about your loved one's needs, preferences, and routines, as well as your respite requirements and timing.

Care Assessment: Our qualified team conducts a comprehensive assessment to understand the level of care needed and any specific requirements.

Personalised Care Plan: We develop a temporary care plan that maintains familiar routines whilst ensuring all care needs are met professionally.

Pre-Admission Visit: We encourage visits to our care home before the respite stay to help your loved one become familiar with the environment and meet key staff members.

Respite Care

Preparing for Respite Care

Helping Your Loved One Prepare

Positive Framing: Present the respite stay as a positive experience - perhaps a short holiday or opportunity to meet new people rather than focusing on your need for a break.

Familiarisation: If possible, visit the care home together beforehand so they can meet staff and see their temporary room.

Routine Discussion: Talk through what their daily routine will be like, emphasising familiar elements like meal times and activities.

Reassurance: Confirm that the stay is temporary and that you'll be returning to collect them on a specific date.

When Respite Care Is Most Helpful

Respite care can be invaluable in numerous situations:

Regular Planned Breaks:

  • Weekly or monthly respite to maintain your wellbeing
  • Holiday periods when you want to travel or visit family
  • Special occasions when you need to focus on other family members
  • Regular respite to prevent carer fatigue and stress

Emergency Situations:

  • When you become ill and cannot provide care temporarily
  • Family emergencies requiring your immediate attention elsewhere
  • Hospital admissions or medical procedures requiring recovery time
  • Unexpected life events that demand your full attention

Assessment and Planning:

  • Trial periods to see how your loved one adapts to professional care
  • Assessment of changing care needs in a professional environment
  • Exploring long-term care options without pressure or commitment
  • Gradual introduction to care home environment if permanent placement is being considered

Common Situations Where Families Use Respite Care

First-time carers who need to understand their own limits and develop sustainable caring patterns. Long-term carers experiencing burnout or stress-related health problems. Families managing complex care needs that require specialist equipment or expertise. Carers juggling multiple responsibilities including work, other family members, or their own health conditions.

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Ready to Get the Support You Deserve?

Caring for someone you love is admirable, but you don't have to do it alone. Our respite care services are designed to support both you and your loved one, ensuring everyone's needs are met with professional care and genuine compassion.

Contact us today to discover how our respite care services can provide you with the break you need whilst ensuring your loved one receives excellent care in a safe, comfortable environment.

Your Journey to Respite Care Support

Initial consultation to understand your caring situation and respite needs

Care assessment for your loved one by our qualified professionals

Facility visit to see our care homes and meet our teams

Care planning to ensure continuity and comfort during the respite period

Flexible booking arrangements that work around your schedule

Ongoing support for regular respite care as needed

Professional Care Standards

Our residential care meets the highest professional standards:

  • CQC registered and regularly inspected
  • Fully qualified care staff with ongoing training
  • Robust safeguarding procedures protecting all residents
  • Comprehensive health and safety protocols
  • Regular quality audits and continuous improvement
  • Family feedback actively sought and implemented

Visit our care homes

Contact us to arrange a visit or have a conversation

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can respite care last?

Respite care can be arranged for anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your needs and our availability. We can arrange regular short breaks or longer periods as required.

Will my loved one be comfortable in an unfamiliar environment?

We work hard to make respite stays as comfortable as possible by learning about their routines, preferences, and needs beforehand. Many families are surprised by how well their loved ones adapt to the temporary change.

Can I visit during the respite period?

Absolutely. While the purpose is to give you a break, you're always welcome to visit or call. We find most families benefit from having at least some complete time away, but contact is always encouraged if it helps with peace of mind.

How much does respite care cost?

Respite care costs vary depending on the length of stay and level of care required. We provide transparent pricing and can discuss funding options including local authority support and direct payments where eligible.

What should I bring for the respite stay?

We'll provide a comprehensive list, but essentials include comfortable clothing, personal toiletries, any regular medications, and familiar items like photographs or favourite books that help create comfort.

Can respite care help us decide about permanent care?

Many families find respite stays helpful for assessing how their loved one responds to professional care environments. It can provide valuable insights without the pressure of making permanent decisions.
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