Looking After Someone 2018

Taking a break
Linda’s story
Caring for someone can be a full-time job so breaks
are vital to your own wellbeing and quality of life.
There are different ways in which
you may take a break as a carer.
Only you will know what type of
break is best for you. You may need
an hour each week, a day here and
there, a week or two for a holiday,
or a combination of all of these.
You do find yourself slightly
isolated as a carer. I have friends,
but often Charles’ day-to-day
needs transcend my own, so I can
be an unreliable friend.
Think about the kind of break that
If you want to go on holiday, either
you need as a carer and what kind
alone or with the person you are
As his carer I do a whole host of
of alternative care the person you
looking after, there may be some
things to help him throughout the
are looking after needs.
help you could get towards the
day – from making sure he takes
There are different options for cost. You could see if there are any
his medication and doing his dinner
getting alternative care (often local grants or schemes to help
to getting him to his different That said, it’s not the long breaks
16 called respite care) for the person carers with the cost of a holiday
hospital appointments. In Neath that I look forward to, my main 17
you are looking after whilst you
take a break:
• getting help from the local
authority social services
department via assessments
(see pages 13–14)
“Catch up on sleep and give
yourself time to think. When
you’re caring there are often
complex emotions to deal
with and feelings of loss.
There is no right way to use
your time, just be gentle on
yourself.”
• arranging care yourself
(see page 11)
• support from friends or family
• some organisations provide
break services for carers or for
the person being looked after
(or both).
and you could have a look through
the list of organisations in our
taking a break factsheet.
Find out more at
carersuk.org/break
“It took years before I was
able to consider respite for my
daughter. Eventually after a
difficult episode I gave in and
accepted. Years on I now know I
need that complete break each
year. I come back recharged
and more able to cope.”
Linda cares for her husband,
Charles, who has dementia and
diabetes. Linda’s local carers’
service runs a sitting service, when
volunteers will go and sit with
Charles for a few hours so that
Linda can do something for herself.
Port Talbot the carers’ service has
created the sitting service, when a
volunteer will come in to sit with
Charles for an hour or so at a time.
They don’t do any caring activities,
but keep him company and put my
mind at ease that there’s someone
there making sure nothing is going
wrong.
The service helps me pop out every
now and again, even if it’s just to
go to the doctors myself or for a
haircut.
Like many other patients my
husband doesn’t really like respite.
Luckily, over the years we’ve had a
friend that manages to come and
look after him if I’m away for longer
periods. That really works for us as
I can take a break knowing that
Charles is getting the care he needs,
the way he likes it.
break is my garden, it’s the perfect
escape. I’m within shouting
distance if Charles is inside the
house and I can have my mobile
phone on me while I’m pottering
around should there be an
emergency. When the weather gets
nice Charles can come outside and
talk to me as I garden. I’m always
there, still caring, but I’m away and
taking some time for myself at the
same time.
If you need advice and information about taking a break,
download our factsheet at carersuk.org/break or contact the
Carers UK Adviceline on 0808 808 7777 or at advice@carersuk.org
Looking after someone
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Looking after someone
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