Respite Care
What is Respite care?
Respite Care…. Can be a holiday with lots of fun! for the elderly with a welcome break in the normal daily routine with the opportunity to social and make new friends at these elderly care centers.
There is no definition of respite care for the elderly anywhere within social security legislation. In effect, respite care is covered by provisions which govern temporary absences from the home.
A temporary absence is defined as one unlikely to exceed 52 weeks or, in exceptional cases, unlikely to substantially exceed 52 weeks, where a person intends to return home and has not let or sub-let the home in the meantime.
This section covers a person who goes into care on a trial basis(ie for a short period in order to see if a particular residential care or nursing home suits her/his needs).
One of the most valued facilities for the elderly and their carers is Respite Care. Click Here for more detailed information about why Respite Care and how it can be so important and helpful.
Day care
Is a form of respite for carers,elderly day care is a break from caring for just a few hours gives a carer a break from the constant commitment of caring for an elderly loved one or relative. This is usually provided at elderly day care centre although a number of residential elderly care homes provide an elderly cay care facility
Resident residential care
Where your loved one stay for a short overnight, for a few days or even longer to enable a carer to go away on holiday can be made available if social services agree.
Trying to find out how many days of Respite Care for the elderly you can get for your loved one or relative is very difficult and seems to be interpreted differently by each authority liable for most of the cost.
Usually the person going into respite care for a short period pays a sum of around £13 per night paid direct to the Care home, the rest of the cost is often borne by the local authority.
It is very important that confirmation of the exact length of time allowed is obtained beforehand rather have complications later.
All other social security benefits are normally unaffected by temporary periods spent in respite care. A carer can continue to receive Carer’s Allowance while the person being cared for is in respite care providing that Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance care components remains in payment.
Attendance allowance & Disability living allowance
Elderly Care home is not defined in the regulations and is not linked to the legal definition of other settings.
However, if a person is receiving elderly care services whether from a trust or independent accommodation and paying the cost without financial assistance from means-tested benefits or social services funding, AA or DLA care components can continue to be paid beyond 28 days.
Separate elderly care respite stays in hospital which are less than 28 days apart are added together when calculating how long a person has been in receipt of elderly care.
Regulations set out that day of admission to discharge from care are not treated as days in care.
What is Sheltered Housing ?
This takes the form of adapted accommodation (usually for older people). Sheltered accommodation usually features a personal alarm system so residents can get help should they require it. Residents can normally furnish the accommodation with their own items.