Short stays, short term care and respite care
Short breaks, respite or short term care is for people who require assistance with personal care because of disability, frailty, mental ill health or who are recovering from a period of ill health or family difficulty.
In addition, the service gives carers, who provide a substantial amount of support to a cared for person, the chance to take a break.
Respite or short term care is usually provided within a residential or nursing home. However, it can also be provided within an Adult Placement scheme or as short term, emergency home based respite.
What do these services provide?
These services provide support enabling you to remain living at home independently or to help you be maintained within the family home. Services provide essential respite for family carers or a break from the usual daily routines for individuals.
Short term and respite care is available in a wide range of local authority, private and voluntary homes across the county.
Your allocated care co-ordinator, and if necessary a representative from the Primary Care Trust would come to an agreement about whether you need a nursing home or a residential home. The range of options would then be discussed with you and your carer. This may include residential care, a nursing home, our Adult Placement Scheme or home based respite care, enabling you to choose the most appropriate placement for your needs.
There are services in all areas of Derbyshire and we will discuss your preferences with you, so that you do not have to travel any further than necessary to access respite care.
There are specialist services for people who have specific needs ie learning disability, dementia or physical disability. Your needs will be discussed during your assessment.
Ways to access and pay for this service
If you do not already receive services, the first point of contact would be Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058. A visit from a care co-ordinator would be arranged to determine eligibility for short break or respite services.
When the assessment outcomes are agreed, the length and frequency of the planned break would be discussed and agreed with yourself and your carers.
There are charges for these services and how much you pay will be subject to a financial assessment.
If your stay is three weeks or less you will normally pay a standard rate. From April 2011 the standard rate if £114.75 per week, if you are over pension age, or £73.75 per week if you are under pension age.
If your stay exceeds three weeks, or you wish to extend your stay for over three weeks whilst in your placement, you will need to have a financial assessment.
These charges apply to anyone who has capital or savings of less than £23,250. If you have more than this amount then you will have to pay for respite or short term care charges in full as you would be self funding. However, you are still entitled to an assessment and assistance with choosing the most appropriate placement to meet your needs
Derbyshire Care Homes Directory provides information on a wide range of options for short term care, short breaks and respite and information on the financial assessment.
If you own your own home this will not be taken into account when assessing how much you will need to contribute towards the cost of the respite stay.