Respite Care in Bath
Bath’s hills, historic streets and surrounding villages can make caring at home tiring, especially when appointments and errands pile up. Respite care gives you time to rest while the person you care for is properly looked after.
Families often begin with home care so they can take a few hours for themselves. For holidays or a longer rest, live in care offers one to one support at home, and short stays in care homes or residential care settings near Bath suit people who need more help, including those recovering from a stroke or living with Parkinson’s.
The Carers’ Centre for Bath and North East Somerset supports unpaid carers with advice, groups and help planning breaks. Bath and North East Somerset Council can carry out a carer’s assessment.
Local support, NHS and funding in Bath
Bath and North East Somerset Council is responsible for adult social care in Bath. Ask them for a needs assessment for the person you care for and a carer’s assessment for yourself. If you are eligible, the council may arrange or help pay for respite, usually after a financial assessment, and some families use direct payments to arrange care themselves. Visit the Bath and North East Somerset Council website.
If your loved one’s needs are mainly health related, ask their GP or social worker about NHS continuing healthcare, which is arranged and paid for by the NHS. The NHS guide to carer breaks and respite care also sets out the options.
Benefits can help with the cost. Attendance Allowance is not means tested and is paid to people over State Pension age who need help with care, and Carer’s Allowance may be available if you care for 35 hours a week or more. Our guide to funding respite care and carer’s assessment guide explain more.
Your local Age UK may offer carers support and sitting services, and you can search for charity grants towards the cost of a break through Turn2us.
Booking respite care in Bath
Before you book, check the provider’s latest inspection report from the CQC and ask about availability, the minimum length of stay and what is included in the price. Short stay places in Bath can fill up around school holidays and Christmas, so it helps to enquire a few weeks ahead. If this is your first break, a few home care visits or a short trial stay can help your loved one settle.
Every provider listed here can be contacted directly through respite-care.co.uk. Use the filters to narrow by type of care or condition, then send a free, no obligation enquiry to the providers that suit you. If you are new to arranging a break, our guide to getting a carer’s assessment explains how to ask the council for help with the cost.
