A break or holiday for carers and the people they care for

We know that caring for someone else can be hard. Sometimes, having a short break, anything from just a few hours to a holiday away, can mean a lot.

Many organisations also offer information and advice about suitable holidays for older people, or for people with a disability, who want a holiday with or without their carer.

Respite care

When someone else takes over your caring routine so that you can have a break or holiday, it’s called respite care.

If you need support at home or you’re a carer looking after someone who does, you may be entitled to some respite care depending on both your needs assessed through a joint SDS assessment. We will look at suitable services for the carer but the cared-for person would also need to complete a financial assessment and may be asked to contribute to the costs at an amount that we believe is affordable.

Carers Breaks Poster artwork

Give Carers a Break

Richmond Council and Richmond Clinical Commissioning Group have set up a joint fund to recognise the contribution provided by unpaid carers.

Carers are eligible for a one-off payment of £250 per financial year and this payment can be accessed either through a Separate Carer’s Assessment or through an application form for a Carer’s Payment. A maximum of two carers per family group may apply per financial year.

The payments are to recognise the importance of enabling carers to continue in their role while acknowledging that their own health or wellbeing may be affected. The payments may be used for anything that carers feel will provide them with a break from their caring role, such as paying for activities, a short break or holiday or a regular therapy. The aim of the payment is to improve carers’ health and wellbeing.

To be eligible carers must either be a Richmond resident or caring for someone who is a Richmond resident. The fund is limited and payments will depend on eligibility and volume of applications.

If you wish to apply for a Carer’s Payment please complete the Carer’s Payment Application Form (MS Word, 593KB). Please note that this form must be endorsed (on page 6) by a GP, a health or social work professional or a support worker from one of the local carer services; please ensure that all sections of the form are fully completed using clearly written BLOCK CAPITALS.

Organisations approved to endorse Carer’s Payment Application Forms

Voluntary Sector Organisations

  • Addiction Support Agency
  • Age UK
  • Alzheimer’s Society
  • Crossroads
  • EMAG (Ethnic Minorities Advocacy Group
  • Grace Debt Advice
  • Home-Link
  • Home-Start
  • INS (Integrated Neurological Services)
  • Mencap
  • Middlesex Association for the Blind
  • Relate
  • Richmond AID
  • Richmond Carers Centre
  • Richmond Mind
  • The School and Family Works
  • Three Wings Trust

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

  • Access and Re-ablement Teams
  • Community Health and Social Care Teams
  • Occupational Therapists

NHS

  • GPs
  • South West London & St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust clinical and social care staff
  • Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust nursing and therapy staff

For more information download the Give Carers a Break flyer(pdf, 442KB).

Holidays

You may want a holiday or break away for yourself or maybe for the person you care for, knowing they’ll be in safe hands whilst they’re away. There are organisations that can help you, from arranging respite care to looking at accessible resorts and help with funding, for example, the Richmond Carers Centre and Carers Trust.

There are also organisations that specialise in accessible travel and holidays for people with a disability, who want a break with or without their carer and family where appropriate. Some charities can provide subsidised accommodation and breaks can be with or without care.

Our Carers Directory(pdf, 598KB) contains a list of organisations that can help you as well as more information on all aspects of caring.

The person you care for may also be able to spend some time in a residential or nursing home, or an adult placement if they have a learning disability.

Breaks for a day or less

Richmond Council has two Specialist Day Centres for older people who have been assessed as having high level care needs.Woodville Centre at Ham is specialist centres for dementia, and Sheen Lane caters for those with a physical disability or sensory impairment. They provide tailored therapy, activities, outings and the chance to socialise for the person you care for, whilst you get a break. Full and half day options are available.

Homelink provides local day respite care for older people with a disability, again, enabling you to a have a well-earned break.

Leisure time

Leisure and social activities in the borough that are aimed at carers range from social groups, trips and workshops, to going out with the person you care for and your family. Look at events and activities for more details.

Useful contacts

For more information and advice please contact the Carers Hub or its lead organisation:

Richmond Carers Centre

Address: 5 Briar Road, Twickenham, TW2 6RB
Phone: 020 8867 2380
Email: info@richmondcarers.org
Web: www.carers.org/local/london/richmond

Please contact me about this service

If you’re still unsure you can contact the Adult Social Care Access Team