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Home > Care Options > Respite Care or Short Stays

Respite Care

Respite Care or Short Stays in Care Homes or Care Home with Nursing are popular ways of supporting older people before they need permanent residential care. Most care homes provide Respite Care although you will need to check for availability as it cannot be guaranteed.  Often homes are unable to book Short Stays in advance because they will not know what their availability will be in the future.

There is a minimum length of stay in most homes, how long will depend on the individual home, but they will tell you when you visit.  Homes have a minimum length of stay because they have to complete a great deal of work, by law, prior to a resident moving in.

Pre-admission tasks that a care home will complete:

  • Meeting with and assessing the needs of the resident
  • Writing a detailed individual Plan of Care
  • Re-furbishing the room ready for admission
  • Training all staff so they understand how the new resident likes to be supported
  • Ensuring all necessary specialist equipment and appropriate  medication has been delivered
  • Liaising with GPs, Hospitals and other Healthcare professionals to ensure continuity of care

Often the minimum length of stay is one week, but with some organisations it can be up to one month. When you make contact with a care home they will be able to provide you with this information.

Is Respite care right for me?

There are a number of reasons why people choose to enjoy a Respite Care or Short Stays in a care home:

  • Convalescence following an illness or operation
  • A family carer may be going on holiday, in hospital themselves or just need a break to recharge their batteries
  • A live-in professional carer may need to take some annual leave
  • To rehabilitate following an accident
  • To help regain independence following a hospital stay before going home

Sometimes it can be hard for families to know what is the best thing for their loved ones; sometimes a short respite stay in a care home is all that is needed to get people back on their feet, but, often more permanent residential care is more appropriate.  If you are unsure as to which would be the best choice in your unique circumstances you are always welcome to speak to your local Greensleeves Care Home Manager who will be happy to give you impartial and expert advice.

What to expect during a respite stay in a care home

Essentially Respite Care or Short Stays are exactly the same as a permanent stay, it is just for a shorter and more finite period. You should expect the following from any stay in a care home:

  • A full assessment prior to moving into the home
  • A personalised and individual plan of care that lays out what you need help with and how you want to be supported
  • 24 Hour Care and support from trained and dedicated staff
  • A range of activities to join in with if you wish
  • Good quality, appealing and nutritious food with plenty of choice which will support all dietary needs and preferences
  • Companionship from your fellow residents
  • Your own bedroom and access to the communal areas of the home

If you want to find out more about the availability of Respite care in a Greensleeves Care home search for the your nearest Greensleeves Care home and give them a call.

 

What our families are saying about Greensleeves Residential care

“‘Remarkable’ is the only way to describe the improvement in my mother’s mood after only three weeks of arriving. How wonderful to visit a happy lady, who feels included and cared about.”  – Daughter of Resident

“Mum has been in the home for a few weeks but in this time she has improved dramatically in well-being. She feels safe, well looked after and is very happy.” – Son of Resident

England's No.1 Charity

Greensleeves Care has been named as the “Number One” care charity in England by Which? Consumer Association following their investigation into elderly care in the UK, published in  February 2018.

Meaningful Activities

Maintaining a healthy interest in life is a key part of staying healthy. At Greensleeves Care homes, we offer a full schedule of hobbies and activities to keep life entertaining. This ensures that there is always something for everyone!

Home Cooked Food

The importance of a delicious and well balanced menu cannot be overstated when it comes to having a positive impact on wellbeing. Meals are also a social highlight, where people get together and catch up.