Emergency Respite Care: What to Do When You Need Help Quickly

Last reviewed November 2026. About 5 minutes to read.

Most carers have a moment when they think, what would happen if I could not be there tomorrow? A fall, a sudden illness, a hospital stay or a family crisis can leave the person you care for without the support they rely on. Over the years we have taken plenty of those urgent calls, and the families who coped best were the ones who knew who to ring and had a few details written down.

This guide explains what emergency respite care is, who to contact straight away, the kinds of short notice care that may be available, how it is paid for, and what you can do now so an emergency feels less frightening if it ever comes.

What this guide covers:

• What emergency respite care means
• If someone is in immediate danger
• Who to contact first
• Types of short notice care
• Who pays for emergency respite
• Making an emergency plan now
• Find respite care near you

What emergency respite care means

Emergency respite care, sometimes called urgent respite, is care arranged at short notice because the usual carer suddenly cannot provide it. It might be needed for a night, a few days or several weeks, depending on what has happened.

Common reasons include the carer becoming ill or going into hospital, an accident or injury, a bereavement or family emergency, or the needs of the person being cared for changing so quickly that it is no longer safe for them at home.

If someone is in immediate danger

If anyone’s life is at risk, call 999. If you need urgent medical advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111. Respite services cover care rather than medical emergencies, so make sure the health side is dealt with first.

Who to contact first

In England, Scotland and Wales, your local council’s adult social care team is the main route to emergency respite. In Northern Ireland, contact your local Health and Social Care Trust. Explain that you are a carer, that you cannot provide care right now, and what the person needs to stay safe.

Outside office hours, councils run an out of hours service, often called the emergency duty team. If you do not have the number, search online for “emergency duty team” or “out of hours social work” together with the name of your council.

You do not always need to have had a carer’s assessment first. Many councils will still help in a crisis, and in Scotland you can ask for emergency support even if you do not have an Adult Carer Support Plan.

Other people worth contacting:

• Your local carers’ centre, which may run an emergency card scheme or help you make a plan.
• The person’s GP or district nurse, if their health needs are changing.
• Family, friends or neighbours who could step in for the first few hours while care is arranged.

Types of short notice care

What is available depends on where you live and what the person needs, but emergency respite usually takes one of these forms.

Care at home. Care workers visit at set times, or a live in carer stays in the home. This keeps your loved one in familiar surroundings, which can matter a great deal for someone living with dementia. Read more about home care and live in care.

A short stay in a care home. Some councils keep beds in local care homes for emergencies, and some homes can take a short stay at a few days’ notice. Where nursing care is needed, a nursing home may be the safer choice. You can compare respite care homes near you.

Family and friends. A relative moving in for a few days can bridge the gap while longer term help is put in place.

Hospital. If the person you care for needs medical treatment, they will be cared for in hospital rather than through respite services.

Who pays for emergency respite

When needs are urgent, a council can arrange care straight away and complete the assessments afterwards. Depending on the person’s finances, they may then be asked to contribute, in the same way as for planned care. In England, people with savings above £23,250 are usually expected to pay the full cost.

If you arrange care privately, expect to pay the provider’s normal fees, and sometimes more for very short stays or short notice. As a rough guide, self funded residential respite in the UK averaged around £1,377 a week in early 2026, according to Lottie figures published by Which?.

Charities and benevolent funds can sometimes help. Turn2us has a grants search, and Carers Trust lists grants for carers. Our guide to funding respite care covers the options in more detail.

Making an emergency plan now

The best time to plan for an emergency is when nothing is going wrong. A simple written plan means whoever steps in knows what to do. It helps to include:

• Names and numbers for family, friends, the GP and any care providers.
• Medicines, doses and times, and where they are kept.
• Daily routines, likes and dislikes, and anything that helps them feel calm.
• Health conditions, allergies and mobility needs.
• Practical details such as keys, pets and how to get into the house.

Keep copies somewhere easy to find and give one to someone you trust. Ask your carers’ centre whether there is a carers emergency card scheme where you live. Many areas offer a card that tells people someone depends on you and who to call if something happens to you.

When you have a carer’s assessment, ask for emergency arrangements to be included. Our guide on how a carer’s assessment can help explains what to expect, and Carers UK has practical advice on planning for emergencies.

Find respite care near you

If you need to find a provider quickly, you can search respite care by town or postcode on respite-care.co.uk and contact providers directly. Some can arrange care at short notice, so ask about availability when you get in touch. You can also browse providers in London, Nottingham and Derby.

You may also find these guides useful: warning signs you need a break, respite options from sitting services to short stays and care home vs home respite care.

Written by the Respite-Care team.