respite
How do I get a break?
4 min read
Breaks come in several sizes, and the small regular ones protect you better than the occasional large one. Ask specifically about sitting services, day centres, and short residential stays through a carer’s assessment, and start using them before you are desperate.
What to try
- 1Request a carer’s assessment and ask by name about respite, day services and sitting services.
- 2Start small and regular — two hours a week that is genuinely yours beats one week a year.
- 3Introduce any new person or service gradually, while things are calm, rather than in a crisis.
- 4Book the break into the calendar rather than waiting for a suitable moment. It will not arrive.
What to avoid
- Spending every break on chores and errands. Some of it has to be for you.
- Waiting until you are at breaking point to try respite for the first time.
- Assuming they will not tolerate it. Many people settle better than expected once the routine is established.
Managing the first time
Expect the first few occasions to be unsettling for both of you, and judge it on the fourth rather than the first. Leaving without a long goodbye usually works better than an extended explanation.
How this guide was made
Written by
Written independently for Riparo. It is not copied or adapted from any organisation’s material.
Evidence checked
Not checked against published guidance. Treat this as a starting point and confirm anything important with a professional.
Reviewed by
Not clinically reviewed. No clinician has checked this guide.