










Organising friends and family to help
Respite help from friends and family
Does the person you’re caring for have any other relatives or friends who might be willing to share caring responsibilities with you? Maybe they could take on caring duties for a regular day a week? Or for a week or two while you go on holiday?
This could be an opportunity for you and the person you care for to take a break from one another, and for them to spend quality time with other friends or family members.
Friends and family might temporarily move into the cared-for person’s house or invite them to visit for a short period. If the person you usually care for is considering staying somewhere else, there are a few things to consider:
- Is the property they plan to stay at suitable for their needs? For example, if they have mobility difficulties will they be able to access the property and get around?
- Will they be able to sleep on the ground floor or get upstairs?
- How easy will it be for them to use the bathroom? How will they get there and back?
- Will they be able to access all the medicines and medical supplies that they need?
Make sure they take adequate supplies or the person looking after them knows where to get them.
If you plan to ask another family member or a friend to share caring responsibilities, make sure that the person needing care is willing to accept the arrangements. Is there one family member that they would prefer to stay with than another?
Further reading
The importance of planning ahead, how to access local authority respite care and choosing respite care.
There are lots of options available for respite holidays – from specialist centres that provide holidays for people ...
There are several options open to you when it comes to financing respite care, such as funding from the local ...
Related content

Cost of care and eligibility in England
Use our calculator to find out how much care might cost and what financial support is available.

Benefits for carers
If you are a carer you may be able to claim benefits such as Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Credit. We explain how to get assessed and what’s available.

Organising home care
Many older people live independently with the help of family, friends and professional carers. Explore the different types of home care and how to arrange it.

Sheltered housing
We provide practical information on sheltered housing, extra care housing, assisted living and supported housing, with advice on the renting and buying options.
Receive expert guidance on caring for older people. Our emails are free and sent monthly.
Sign up to Later Life Care emails