Everything you need to know about respite care rates and costs UK

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Key takeaways 

Respite care costs vary depending on your location and specific needs, but who pays for respite care? And how does it work?

• Someone will pay for the cost of respite care themselves, or they can get funding from their local council, authority or trust
• To receive funding, you will need to have a Carer’s Assessment and a Care Needs Assessment to see if you qualify

Respite care (also known as ‘short stay’ care) provides an unpaid carer with some time away from their caring responsibilities. Sometimes respite care is also a period of rehabilitation after a hospital admission or operation.

Respite care (also known as ‘short stay’ care) enables carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities, while someone else steps in for a short period of time, whether for a few hours or a few days.

But before you and your loved one make the decision as to whether or not respite care is viable, you may be wondering:

• Who pays for respite care?
• What are respite care costs in the UK?
• How much does respite care cost per day?

Our guide aims to answer your respite care costs questions.

How much does respite care cost?

According to research by the UK Care Guide, respite care rates and costs in the UK vary, depending on the extent of care needed, the provider and the length of stay.

Respite care costs range from £15-25 per hour for home care services, to £600-1500 per week for a short stay in a care home, emergency respite care or live-in care. However, costs could be more than £1,500 per week and £25 per hour depending on the specification of the care home.

Emergency respite care costs and live-in care at home costs often carry a premium compared to regular daily visits from a domiciliary carer. However, if you wanted to compare live-in care cost and the cost of respite care in a nursing home or residential home, a live-in carer will be the more cost-effective option.

The level of care your loved one needs will also likely impact the cost of respite care too.

For example, someone living with dementia who needs 24-hour care support may need two carers; one in the daytime, and another overnight, meaning you need to take into account both daytime and overnight respite care cost.

Similarly, if the level of respite care you require is more intensive and ‘hands-on’ care, such as mobility support or help with medical care, this will come with higher average care fees and extra costs.

Of course, the decision is ultimately up to you and your loved one, and if you decide a short stay in a residential care home is the best option, finding the right home that fits their care needs and preferences is imperative.

Think about their likes and dislikes, and any activities they might want to take part in. Remember that some activities will cost an additional fee outside of the accommodation and food costs.

Paying for respite care rates and costs UK

Who pays for respite care? This will depend on whether or not you are able to pay for the cost of respite care yourself, or whether you would need additional financial support.

If you need funding help, your local council, authority or trust (depending on where you live in the UK) or a charity may be able to offer assistance.

Paying for it yourself

If the person you care for can pay for their own respite care, they could use the following to raise money towards it: 

• Income from pensions, work, investments or property
• Savings
• Benefits, such as Attendance Allowance

From the council

If you need help with respite care costs UK, you may be eligible for support. 

The amount of funding you can receive for respite care costs and the specific cost of respite care, however, will vary significantly depending on where in the UK you live in and your specific circumstances.

Your local council, authority or trust (depending on where you live in the UK) may be able to offer you financial support towards the cost of respite care. To see if you qualify, you will need to have a Carer’s Assessment and a Care Needs Assessment. 

If you or the person you care for qualifies for respite care, the council will do a financial assessment to work out if it will contribute towards the cost of it. If a person qualifies for council-funded respite care, they can ask the council to arrange it for them, or they can do it themselves through a personal budget or direct payment.

From a charity

Some charities are also able to offer financial assistance towards respite care costs, including:

• Carer’s Trust has grants of up to £300 for adult carers to use on items or activities that will benefit them in their caring role
• Turn2Us is a national charity offering financial support and grants for people who need respite care but can’t afford it
• Respite Association provides assistance in the funding of respite care

Carer’s Assessment: what are you entitled to?

Carers are entitled to a Carer’s Assessment from the adult social services department of their local council, authority or trust (depending on where they live in the UK), prompting them to look at a carer’s responsibilities and duties and decide how they are able to help.

The assessment will take about an hour and someone will ask you some questions about your caring role and how it impacts your life. Which? Later Life has a useful guide about preparing for a Carer’s Assessment.

Following the assessment, your local council might be able to offer you some extra support, such as:

• Organising some cover so you can take a break from caring (respite care)
• Help with domestic tasks such as housework or gardening 
• Emotional support such as counselling 
• Training about how to best care for someone e.g. lifting safely
• Advice about benefits for carers

Are you eligible for Carer’s Allowance?

A Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for informal carers, enabling them to earn up to £76.75 a week if they care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

But if you aren’t eligible for the Carer’s Allowance, you may be entitled to Carer’s Credit.

Applying for a carers holiday grant

A number of charitable organisations have been set up in the UK, providing carers with grants towards short breaks. Unpaid carers and their family members can enjoy some R&R away for their caring responsibilities – enabling them to come back refreshed and recharged. 

These grants are available for carers on lower incomes or those without a support network while caring for their elderly loved one. Some of the organisations include: 

• Olgilvie Charities: Carers can get a grants of up to £300 to enjoy a holiday break
• After Umbrage: Carers can enjoy free, four-night breaks in self-catering cottages

The Respite Association: Provides holiday grants for carers, and also free self-catering holidays in either Cornwall or North Wales.

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