Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it’s essential that you take time out for yourself too. Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you’re a carer is important so they understand and can support you.
Respite care means taking a break from caring, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else. It lets you take time out to look after yourself and helps stop you becoming exhausted and run down.
There are lots of respite care options. They range from getting a volunteer to sit with the person you look after for a few hours, to a short stay in a care home so you can go on holiday.
The person you look after could go to a day care centre. Or, a paid carer could visit them at their home to look after them.
Ely Primary Care Networks are involved in a project that provides short breaks to carers. There are two flyers; one for those needing SHORT BREAKS and one for VOLUNTEERS to help provide the short break. Contact Jen Curtis at the surgery for more information.
Visit the NHS website to find local carers’ centre or respite service
More information about local support can be found on the Cambridgeshire County Council website.
