Day care services

Many social services departments, health authorities and voluntary organisations run day centres for the care of adults with disabilities. Centres arrange social activities, craftwork clubs or outings. Some run sheltered workshops or specialise in training and may be associated with colleges. Most can arrange transport to and from the centre. Your local social services department should be able to tell you about the day care providers in your area.

Residential care

Residential care homes and nursing homes can provide short-term care for the person you look after so that you can take a break.

Care homes are expensive. Social services can help to pay for respite care (either by paying the home directly, or through direct payments or vouchers to you or the person that you look after). If they do, your benefits and those of the person that you look after may be affected.

Attendance Allowance and the care component of Disability Living Allowance stop after 28 days in residential care if social services help with the costs. If two separate stays in residential care are separated by 28 days or less, they are added together when deciding when the Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance should stop.

If possible, you may want to time stays in respite care so that benefits aren't affected.

Your health authority should be able to help with the costs of a nursing home.