How To Take a Break
A danger of being a carer is that you spend so much time focussing on the needs of the person you care for that you forget to take care of yourself. Requesting a carer's assessment from Social Services is an important step in gaining access to a break from caring, see How To Find Out About Your Rights. Parent carers of children with a disability or special need will also find it helpful to explore the range of childcare, out of school clubs and holiday playschemes available.
Croydon Council
www.croydon.gov.uk/socialcare/carers
Croydon Council maintain a webpage: Information for Carers, that has a section on the short breaks schemes for carers that the council funds through the Department of Health's Carers Grant.
Care At Home
Homecare
Homecare, also known as domiciliary care, could enable you to get help with some of the daily tasks involved in looking after someone such as getting up, going to bed, dressing, toileting, cooking, supervision of medication and help to ensure the person is kept safe from harm. Care workers are trained in the use of hoists, manual handling, food hygiene and first aid, where these form part of the care required. Care workers can visit for as little or as long and as often as you need.
There are several ways to receive homecare. You may be eligible for free or subsidised care organised through Social Services, or you could receive a direct payment from Social Services to make your own arrangements (such as employing someone directly). Or, if you do not meet the eligibility criteria for free care, or you need additional services, you can fund your own care by making arrangements with a homecare agency.
Bangladesh Welfare Association
Tel: 020 8684 0272
www.bwac.org.uk
The Bangladesh Welfare Association specialises in supporting the Bangladeshi community, but is open to everyone. It has a Carer Support Project that offers a short-breaks service, which may take the form of a sitting service, practical help such as shopping, or taking the cared for person out to give the carer a break.
Carers' Information Service
Tel: 020 8649 9339
www.carerscontactline.co.uk
The Carers' Information Service has a list (without recommendation) of private homecare agencies operating in the borough.
Community Service Volunteers
(CSV)
Tel: 020 7833 0000
www.csv.org.uk
CSV volunteers can help the person you care for to live independently by living in and providing any assistance that is required. Travelling expenses, pocket money and meals must be provided. Direct Payments can be used to pay these fees. Volunteers will generally stay for a minimum of four months and a maximum of a year.
Croydon Crossroads
Tel: 020 8688 4499
www.crossroads.org.uk
Croydon Crossroads provide support workers who can work in the home with adults and children with a disability or illness to give their carer a break. There is also a Palliative Care Service for carers who are looking after someone with a diagnosis of cancer or other life-limiting/life-threatening illness. For all services, assistance is flexible and can be arranged on a regular or occasional basis in the day, overnight and at weekends. It is possible to purchase care privately from Crossroads or Social Services may be able to fund your package (following an assessment).
Horizon Care & Welfare
Association
Tel: 020 8665 0921
The Horizon Care and Welfare Association supports all black and minority
ethnic carers. It has a Domiciliary Care Project for which there is a charge.
This can be accessed by referral from Croydon Social Services, or carers
can use direct payments or pay privately. It also runs a free Short Breaks
Project that can provide someone to go into the home for two hours a week.
UK Home Care Association (UKHCA)
Tel: 020 8288 1551
www.ukhca.co.uk
UKHCA is the professional representative body for organisations that provide care, including nursing care, to people in their own homes. They can send you a list of quality-assured homecare providers.
Sitting Services
Some organisations recruit and train volunteers to go into the home for a few hours to be with the person you care for, whilst you go out.
Croydon Neighbourhood Care Association (CNCA)
Tel: 020 8662 1000
There are neighbourhood groups all over the borough run by volunteers. Some of these may be able to provide carers' respite and arrange for a volunteer to sit with the cared for person to enable the carer to go out.
Croydon Carers Centre
Tel: 020 8688 7219
Croydon Carers Centre offers an informal sitting service by volunteers who will require payment for travel expenses.
Care Away From Home
An alternative to another person coming into your home to give you a break is to use a scheme where the person you care for can spend a part of the day elsewhere. This could be at a day centre, a lunch club, a residential or nursing home, with a special needs childminder or with a specialist organisation. As well as giving you a break, day care providers can also give the person you care for the opportunity for company, educational or leisure activities, outings and so on.
Alzheimer's Society Croydon
Branch
Tel: 020 8916 3587
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Specialist care for people with dementia and an additional care need such as nursing or extra supervision requirements due to behaviour problems is available at Amberley Lodge Care Home through the Alzheimer's Society. This is funded by Croydon Social Services from one night up to a total of three weeks, and is arranged on a flexible basis.
Asian Resource Centre
(ARC)
Tel: 020 8684 3784
www.arccuk.org
If you are a South Asian carer looking after an elderly member of the family or a friend, the ARC can provide free respite care. This can be up to a maximum of four weeks residential care at Aashna House in Streatham. A care manager normally makes referrals, but carers can contact the ARC direct for information.
Croydon Primary Care Trust
Continuing Care Team
Tel: 020 8655 2041
www.croydon.nhs.uk
Adults and children who have certain medical conditions or complex health needs may come under local continuing care criteria set by Croydon Primary Care Trust, and be able to get a respite care allowance which can be used to arrange nursing care at home or in a care home.
Croydon Social Services
Calleydown Unit
Tel: 020 8726 6000
www.croydon.gov.uk
Calleydown is a seven bedroom residential unit managed by Croydon Social Services. It provides overnight stays and day care for a number of disabled children and young people up to the age of 18. Calleydown can only be accessed via a Social Services assessment.
Croydon Social Services
Day Centres
Tel: 020 8726 6000
www.croydon.gov.uk
Social Services runs day centres that provide an opportunity for adults who are frail, disabled or who have a mental health problem to meet and take part in organised activities, giving the carer a break. Some centres provide services such as chiropody, bathing and hairdressing. Transport and meals are usually available. People can attend on one or more days a week according to their needs and some centres offer overnight stays. Day centres can only be accessed via a Social Services assessment.
Top Care Network Restore Project
Tel: 020 8239 6061
The Restore Project provides free services to members of black and minority ethnic groups who care for someone with a mental health problem and/or dementia. Carers can be referred by a professional or self-refer, and will be assessed to identify their needs. Support is then given at the discretion of the Project, which could be funding towards a holiday or outing, or more practical help.
Special Needs Childcare
If you are caring for a disabled child, you may also find it helpful to
use specialist childcare schemes and other play and leisure opportunities
to take a break, see How To Find
Leisure Activities.
Children's Information
Service (CIS)
Tel: 0845 1111 100
www.croydonchildcare.com
The CIS can advise you on any issue relating to local childcare and activities for children, including those with disabilities.
Croydon Childminding Network
Tel: 020 8604 7586
Croydon Childminding Network can give information about registered childminders in the borough that can look after children aged up to the age of 16 with a disability or special need. Care is provided in the home of the childminder.
Breaks for Young Carers
Off The Record Young Carers Support Project
Tel: 020 8649 9339
www.carerscontactline.co.uk
The Young Carers Support Project arranges activities and outings every school holiday, plus a residential holiday in the summer break, for children and young people with a caring role in their family.
Holidays
Going on holiday with or without the person you care for may require a lot of planning and perhaps the use of a specialist holiday company or organisation, depending on the needs of the person you care for. A number of organisations provide holidays for people with disabilities with or without the carer attending. There are places for carers to go to for a break too.
3H Fund
Tel: 01892 547474
www.3hfund.org.uk
The 3H Fund organises subsidised group holidays for physically disabled children (over the age of 11) and adults with the support of volunteer helpers. In addition, when funds are available, grants are available for families on a low income caring for someone with a physical or learning disability, to enable them to have a modest UK holiday break.
Access Travel
Tel: 01942 888 844
www.access-travel.co.uk
Access Travel is a tour operator that organises holidays for individuals that can incorporate specific needs such as wheelchair accessible accommodation, insured flights, special aids and nurse and care services in Europe and the USA.
Badaguish Outdoor Centre
Tel: 01479 861285
www.badaguish.org
Badaguish is a learning and outdoor education activity centre, designed especially for people of all abilities, in the Cairngorms National Park.
Break
Tel: 01263 822 161
www.break-charity.org
Break provides holidays in Norfolk and the West Country for disabled people and their families. Holidays can be taken with or without accompanying carers.
Calvert Trust
Tel: 01646 661 425
www.calvert-trust.org.uk
The Calvert Trust specialises
in outdoor activity holidays for people with disabilities and their companions.
Contact a Family (CaF)
Tel: 0808 808 3555
www.cafamily.org.uk
CaF produces a factsheet called Holidays, Play and Leisure for families caring for disabled children and young people.
Disabled Holiday Directory
Tel: 01348 875 592
www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk
The Disabled Holiday Directory enables you to find information about accessible holiday accommodation.
Forrester's Respite Centre
Tel: 02380 843042
www.forresters.info
Forrester's Respite Centre is run by Rethink for those with severe mental health problems and their carers. The Centre offers year round breaks and emergency respite.
Holiday Care
Tel: 0845 124 9971
www.holidaycare.org.uk
Holiday Care provides information about all types of holiday, respite care and access issues for disabled people, their families and carers.
The Kiloran Trust
Tel: 020 7602 7404
www.kilorantrust.org.uk
The Kiloran Trust provides residential supportive breaks at their house in West London to all those caring for others who feel the need for a break. Carers can apply direct to Kiloran.
Phab England
Tel: 020 8667 9443
www.phabengland.org.uk
Phab organises residential projects at purpose built activity centres on Exmoor and in the Lake District, for children over the age of nine, with and without a disability. Referrals must be made by Social Services on your behalf. Phab also produces a holiday guide each year listing accessible accommodation and places to visit.
Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)
Tel: 020 7250 3222
www.radar.org.uk
RADAR provides information and
advice on travel and accommodation, including Holidays in Britain and
Ireland : A Guide for Disabled People. RADAR also run the national
key scheme for disabled toilets.
Vitalise
Tel: 0845 345 1972
www.vitalise.org.uk
Vitalise provides holidays for disabled people and planned respite breaks for carers at five UK centres and to destinations overseas.
Financial Help for Holidays
As well as approaching the organisations below, organisations such as RADAR and the Holiday Care Service have factsheets listing sources of financial assistance.
Carers' Information Service
Tel: 020 8649 9339
www.carerscontactline.co.uk
The Carers' Information Service produces a free factsheet: Specific Condition Organisations which may be useful as many of these organisations provide information about holidays.
The Family Fund
Tel: 0845 130 45 42
www.familyfund.org.uk
The Family Fund supports families who care for a severely disabled child under 16 by awarding grants for a range of items including holiday and leisure activity costs. Holidays can be taken with or without the child. Earnings limits apply. Carers can apply direct.
Margaret Champney Rest
and Holiday Fund
Tel: 01394 388746
The Margaret Champney Rest and Holiday Fund gives one-off grants for carers to take a break away from the person they care for. Applications can be received from professionals only.
National Benevolent Fund
for the Aged (NBFA)
Tel: 020 7828 0200
www.nbfa.org.uk
The NBFA helps pensioners on a low income who have not had a holiday in the last three years. Each holiday includes coach travel, accommodations, meals, outings and entertainment. They also provide holidays for those who need a break but require daily care.
Off The Record Young Carers Support Project
Tel: 020 8649 9339
www.carerscontactline.co.uk
The Young Carers Support Project can make applications for holiday grants and other financial help, for families where there is a young carer.
Written and compiled by the Carers' Information Service. If you notice any errors or omissions, or have any comments to make, please contact the Carers' Information Service on 020 8649 9339 or email us at info@carerscontactline.co.uk
