Everyone needs a change and time off occasionally, whether it's for an hour, a day or a week. This can be especially true for carers.
Getting time for yourself can make a big difference to you. The person you care for may prefer your care to anyone else's – but it’s important for both of you that you look after your own health and wellbeing, and recharge your batteries.
Oxfordshire agencies
Approved personal assistants
Approved personal assistants help people who require social care and support. They are checked, trained and sign a code of conduct under Oxfordshire County Council's new Support with Confidence scheme. To find out more about personal assistants and how to get one contact:
Short daytime breaks
Day centres support adults with physical disabilities of all ages, older frail adults, and older adults with dementia, mental health problems and learning disabilities. Day centres operate in towns and villages throughout the county, usually on a Monday to Friday basis - some open on Saturday.
The Short Break scheme is for children who have physical or learning disabilities or particular medical conditions, and who need the occasional break for a few hours, or a weekend.
Oxfordshire Volunteer Befriending Service offers carers a regular short break from their caring role. A volunteer will sit with the person cared for, for 2-3 hours each week or fortnight. Volunteers do not administer medication, do personal care or moving and handling. They will make a cup of tea and ensure the cared for person remains safe. This is a free service, but carers can make a donation if they wish.
To qualify for the service, carers must be registered with Carers in Oxfordshire. Elaine Gilbert is the Volunteer Coordinator and can be contacted on: 078 014 82408 or email: elaine@ccnwoxon.org.uk
Longer breaks
We may be able to arrange short breaks for the person you care for in a residential or nursing home, perhaps for a weekend or a few weeks.
If you are caring for an older person our Care Services Placement Team is able to give advice to people who wish to make their own private respite arrangements outside of the service that the council provides. Staff can share their knowledge as to what private respite care may be available within the county and provide contact details of care homes for you to follow up. If you would like to talk to someone from the Care Services Placement Team call 01865 787346 or email scs.respite.bookings@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
More information about care homes, including care homes with vacancies, can be found on the searching for a home page.
You can also search for a care home if you wish through the website www.bettercaring.com.
The Shared Lives service provides support for people within ordinary homes from a few hours support a day to longer term.
Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission keeps a database of care providers complete with its own inspection ratings. You can search its directory of reports on care services at www.cqc.org.uk or contact them directly at 03000 616161. Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk
Help in an emergency
You may need support urgently because you have become ill. The emergency carers' support service is a 24-hour emergency support service for adult carers of adults in Oxfordshire.
Hospices
Sir Michael Sobell House cares for people who have a life threatening illness and their families. It is part of Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.
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