Respite care near you

Find a self-employed carer for respite care near you. It's free for families, and you choose who to speak to.

Find a carer near you

About respite care

What it usually involves

Someone stepping in so the family carer can rest, get to an appointment, see friends or go away. It can be a few hours a week, a regular day, or a longer block of time.

How a self-employed carer can help

Reliable cover at agreed times, from someone your loved one gets to know. For longer breaks, a carer who also does overnight or live-in care may be able to cover.

Questions worth asking

Questions families ask

I feel guilty taking a break. Is that normal?

Very. But carers who get rest can keep caring for longer. A regular break is part of looking after someone, not a step away from it.

Can the council help with breaks?

Anyone looking after someone can ask the council for a carer's assessment (an adult carer support plan in Scotland). It can lead to support, sometimes including help with breaks.

How much notice does a respite carer need?

Agree it at the start. A regular slot is set once; for a holiday, ask a few weeks ahead.

Helpful guides

Respite care by area

Cities and towns

Other help

Why I started Carers & Cleaners

When my mum, Jean, was diagnosed with dementia, I found it surprisingly hard to find good local help. In the end we found a wonderful independent carer, and later a cleaner, by word of mouth. I built Carers & Cleaners so other families don't have to rely on luck.

Martin

Read our story

Are you a carer?

Join Carers & Cleaners for £1 a year and be found by families looking for respite care near you. There's no commission: you set your own rates and families pay you directly.

Join as a carer

Carers & Cleaners is an introduction service. We don't vet or employ anyone, and what carers and cleaners tell us about themselves is self-declared. Families choose who to speak to and agree everything with them directly.