Caring for a loved one is one of the most selfless things a person can do. But it can also be one of the most exhausting. If you are a family carer — looking after a parent, spouse, or other relative at home — you deserve support too. That is where respite care comes in.
Respite care gives family carers a planned break from their caring responsibilities, while ensuring the person they look after continues to receive safe, professional support. It is not about stepping away from your role — it is about sustaining it. Taking time to rest, recharge, and look after your own health is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
What Exactly Is Respite Care?
Respite care is temporary care provided to a person with care needs so that their usual carer can take a break. The break might be a few hours, a full day, a weekend, or even a week or more. During that time, a professional care worker steps in to provide all the support the person needs, following the same care plan and routines they are used to.
The word “respite” simply means relief or rest. The purpose is to give family carers time to attend to their own needs — whether that is attending a medical appointment, spending time with other family members, going on holiday, or simply having a quiet afternoon at home without the constant responsibility of caring.
Types of Respite Care
Respite care can take several forms, depending on the needs of the person being cared for and the preferences of the family.
In-Home Respite Care
This is the most common type and often the most comfortable for the person receiving care. A professional care worker comes to the home and takes over the caring duties for an agreed period. The person stays in their own familiar environment, with their own routines and belongings around them.
At Accredilink, our in-home respite care can range from a few hours of sit-in support to a full day or overnight stay. We match our care workers carefully so that your loved one is with someone they can feel comfortable with.
Day Centre Respite
Some areas offer day centres where older people or people with disabilities can spend the day in a social setting with structured activities, meals, and supervision. This gives the family carer a full day’s break and provides valuable social interaction for the person attending.
Residential Respite
For longer breaks, such as when a carer needs to go on holiday or into hospital themselves, the person being cared for may stay temporarily in a residential care home. This is sometimes called “short break” care. It is planned in advance and is always temporary.
Emergency Respite
Sometimes, unexpected situations arise — the carer falls ill, has an accident, or faces a family emergency. Emergency respite provides rapid, unplanned support to ensure the person being cared for is safe. At Accredilink, we have emergency care responders on shift, which means we can often mobilise support quickly when the unexpected happens.
Who Is Respite Care For?
Respite care is for any family carer who needs a break, and for the people they look after. You do not need to be at breaking point to access respite — in fact, the whole point is to prevent burnout before it happens. Respite care may be particularly beneficial if:
- You are caring for someone with dementia, who requires constant supervision
- You are providing physical care that is taking a toll on your own health
- You are balancing caring with work, childcare, or other commitments
- You are feeling emotionally drained, anxious, or low in mood
- You need to attend your own medical appointments or have planned time away
- You simply need a rest — and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that
Respite is also valuable for the person receiving care. It introduces them to new faces and can provide a different kind of stimulation and social interaction. It also helps them build confidence with other carers, which can be reassuring for the future.
The Benefits of Respite Care
The benefits of regular respite are well documented and extend to the whole family.
For the Carer
- Physical health: Time to rest, exercise, attend medical appointments, and recover from the physical demands of caring.
- Mental health: A chance to decompress, reduce stress, and do things you enjoy. Regular respite significantly reduces the risk of carer burnout and depression.
- Relationships: Time to spend with your partner, children, or friends without the constant demands of caring.
- Sustainability: Carers who take regular breaks are able to continue caring for longer. Without respite, many carers reach a point where they simply cannot continue, which can lead to a crisis.
For the Person Receiving Care
- Social interaction: Meeting and spending time with new people.
- Routine variety: A slightly different approach can be stimulating and enjoyable.
- Confidence: Building trust with professional carers, which is valuable if care needs increase in the future.
- Better relationship with their carer: When a family carer is well-rested, the quality of the caring relationship improves for everyone.
How to Arrange Respite Care in Wales
There are two main routes to arranging respite care: through your local authority or privately.
Through Your Local Authority
Under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, family carers in Wales have the right to a carer’s assessment. This is separate from the care needs assessment for the person you look after. The carer’s assessment looks at the impact of caring on your own wellbeing and can lead to support being arranged, including respite care.
To request a carer’s assessment, contact your local authority’s adult social care team or Single Point of Access. In Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham, you can do this by phone. The assessment is free and does not commit you to anything.
If the assessment determines that you need support, the local authority may fund respite care directly or offer direct payments so you can arrange it yourself. The Welsh cap on non-residential care charges applies, keeping costs manageable. Read our guide to care funding in Wales for more information.
Arranging Privately
You can also arrange respite care privately, without going through the local authority. This gives you more flexibility over timing and the choice of provider. At Accredilink, we offer flexible respite care packages that can be arranged at short notice for families across Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham.
Whether you need a regular weekly sit-in so you can attend an appointment, or occasional full-day cover so you can have a day to yourself, we can work with you to find an arrangement that fits.
Funding Respite Care
Respite care in Wales can be funded in several ways:
- Local authority funded: Following a carer’s assessment, the council may arrange and fund respite. The Welsh cap on charges applies.
- Direct payments: You may receive a budget to arrange your own respite care with a registered provider.
- Attendance Allowance: If the person you care for receives Attendance Allowance, this can be used to contribute towards the cost of respite.
- Charitable grants: Some charities, including local carer organisations and national bodies like Carers Trust, offer grants or funded breaks for family carers.
- Self-funding: You can arrange and pay for respite care privately at any time.
Our funding guidance page provides further detail on the options available, and our team is always happy to discuss what might work for your situation.
Overcoming Guilt
Many carers feel guilty about taking a break. It is one of the most common barriers to accessing respite. You might feel that nobody else can care for your loved one the way you do, or that taking time off means you are letting them down.
The truth is the opposite. Taking a break makes you a better carer. When you are rested, you have more patience, more energy, and more emotional capacity to provide the love and support your family member needs. Respite care is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you are taking your caring role seriously enough to sustain it.
If your loved one is anxious about having a different carer, we understand. At Accredilink, we introduce our care workers gradually and make sure the transition is gentle. Many families are surprised at how quickly their loved one warms to a new face — especially when that person is warm, kind, and genuinely interested in them.
How Accredilink Can Help
We are a CIW-registered care provider serving Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham. Our respite care service is designed to be flexible, compassionate, and reassuring — both for the person receiving care and the family carer taking a well-earned break.
Whether you need regular planned respite or one-off emergency cover, we are here to help. Our team includes experienced care workers and emergency care responders available on shift, so you can have confidence that your loved one is in safe hands.