Welcome to CareBreaks

Our aim is to provide you with up-to-date information about the range of short breaks and respite care options available to you.

What are Short Breaks and Respite Care?

Short Breaks and Respite Care provide short – term care services for people with disabilities or long term illness and their carers. This web site currently provides information for adults and their carers only.

Respite Care and Short Breaks generally means giving a Carer and the person they care for a break from one another. Sometimes a Carer and the person they care for like support to take a break together. Short Breaks also apply to people who live alone and are supported by unpaid/paid carers, when a break is needed to prevent the breakdown of their home circumstances.

The terms Respite Care and Short Breaks really mean the same thing. For the sake of simplicity we will use the term ‘Short Breaks’ here.

Short Breaks range from a few hours to a few weeks. The length and frequency of breaks you are entitled to will depend on your particular circumstances.

Short Breaks may be provided:

• in the cared for person’s home.
• in the home of another individual or family who are specially recruited for this purpose.
• in a holiday facility.
• in a respite–only unit.
• at a day centre or day hospital.
• by taking part in an activity outside the house.
• in a care home.
• in any of the above through direct payment arrangements.
• in a hospital.

We are constantly adding new information as and when we hear of places you have recommended. We hope you find this website useful and would welcome any comments or suggestions for improving the site. If there is anything you would like to add to our database send an e-mail to: centre@borders.carers.net.