Caring for someone with cancer can become a big part of everyday life. There may be appointments to keep, meals to prepare and practical things to help with, alongside everything else you already have going on.
For the person with cancer, having someone else provide care can take some getting used to too. They may be more comfortable with help from someone they know, or they may simply want to know that their usual routines will stay the same.
Respite care gives family carers a chance to step away for a while, while someone else provides the support their loved one needs. You don’t need to wait until you’re exhausted to consider respite care. Taking a break is part of making caring manageable, not a sign that you’re letting someone down.
This guide explains how respite care can support both the person with cancer and the person caring for them, and what to think about when arranging support at home.
What is respite care?
Respite care is temporary care that gives a family member or regular carer some time away from their caring responsibilities.
It can look different for every family. You might need someone to come in for a few hours while you go to work or attend an appointment. You might arrange care for several days while you take a proper break, or have a carer stay with your loved one while you go away.
Respite care can take place in different settings, including care homes, hospices and day services. At Trinity, respite care at home allows the person to remain in familiar surroundings while a professional carer provides the agreed support.
The important thing is that the arrangement works for both of you.
Why might a family carer need a break?
When you’re caring for someone you love, it can be difficult to think of yourself as a carer. You’re a partner, daughter, son, friend or another important person in their life first.
But caring can still take up a lot of time and energy.
There are the practical things, such as helping someone wash and dress, preparing meals or getting them to appointments. Then there’s everything that sits in the background: keeping track of what’s happening, worrying about how they’re feeling and thinking ahead to the next appointment.
Add work, children, household responsibilities and your own life into the mix, and it can be hard to find much time for yourself.
Feeling tired or overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. And needing a break doesn’t mean you care any less.
Sometimes a few hours away is enough to reset. Sometimes you need longer. Respite care can give you that time without leaving your loved one without support.
If caring is affecting your own health or wellbeing, speak to your GP. In England, you can also ask your local council for a carer’s assessment, which looks at the support you may need in your own right.
How can respite care help someone with cancer?
Respite care isn’t only about giving the family carer a break. It should also be a positive experience for the person receiving care.
A professional carer can provide the practical help they need while keeping their usual routines and preferences at the centre of the day.
Depending on their care plan, this could include:
- Help with washing and dressing
- Preparing meals and drinks
- Support with mobility and getting around the home
- Help with everyday household tasks
- Medication prompts or assistance where this is part of the agreed care plan
- Companionship and conversation
- Support with hobbies, interests or getting out of the house.
Cancer-related fatigue can make even familiar activities feel tiring. Macmillan recommends finding a balance between activity and rest, rather than trying to push through exhaustion.
A carer can take on some of the practical jobs that have become more difficult, while giving the person space to rest when they need it.
And because the care takes place at home, there’s no need to leave behind the familiar things that make someone feel comfortable. Their own bed, their favourite chair, their usual mealtimes and the people and pets around them can all remain part of everyday life.
A good handover can help make the change of carer feel straightforward. It’s useful to share information about routines, appointments, medication and anything else that helps the person feel comfortable.
If their needs change, the carer should know who to contact and what to do. Clinical decisions and cancer treatment remain the responsibility of the relevant healthcare professionals.
How can respite care help family carers?
A break doesn’t have to mean doing something particularly productive.
You might use the time to catch up on work, go shopping, see a friend or attend your own appointment. Or you might simply sleep, sit quietly with a cup of tea or do absolutely nothing for a few hours.
All of those are valid reasons to have a break.
It’s also understandable to feel a little uneasy about handing over care, particularly if you’ve been looking after someone for a long time. You know their routines and preferences better than anyone.
That knowledge is useful. Sharing it with their carer can help them settle into the arrangement and gives the carer a better understanding of what matters to the person.
Taking a break doesn’t mean stepping away from decisions or from your relationship with the person you care for. It simply means you’re not expected to do everything yourself.
With their consent, families receiving Trinity care can also use TrinityConnect to stay updated while they’re away.
When might respite care be helpful?
There’s no particular point when you have to arrange respite care.
You might need it because:
- You’re going away for a few days
- You have work or family commitments
- You have your own appointment or need to recover from illness
- The person you care for needs more help following treatment or a hospital stay
- You’d like regular time for yourself
- You simply feel that you could do with some help.
Respite doesn’t have to be an emergency measure. Having regular support can make caring feel more manageable before you reach the point of exhaustion.
It can also be useful to think ahead. If you know you have a holiday, hospital appointment or other commitment coming up, arranging care in advance gives everyone time to get comfortable with the plan.
Respite care can also sit alongside palliative care at home. Palliative care focuses on comfort, symptoms and quality of life and can be provided at different stages of illness, rather than only at the end of life.
What types of respite care are available?
Visiting respite care
A carer can visit at agreed times to help with personal care, meals, companionship and other everyday tasks. This can work well if you need a few hours of support or help at particular points during the day.
Live-in respite care
A live-in carer stays in the person’s home for an agreed period, providing support throughout the day and becoming part of their usual routine.
Live-in carers need their own bedroom and regular time to rest. If someone needs continuous waking support overnight, separate arrangements are needed rather than expecting a live-in carer to work without breaks.
Respite for more complex needs
Some people living with cancer have additional or more complex care needs. The type of support available will depend on an individual assessment and the carer’s skills and experience.
Where nursing or other clinical care is needed, this should continue to be provided by the appropriate healthcare professional alongside the care at home.
Companionship
Respite care doesn’t have to be all about personal care. Sometimes having another person around to talk to, prepare lunch with or share an interest can make a real difference.
The aim is to provide support that fits naturally into the person’s life. You can find out more about Trinity’s respite care options.
Respite care for cancer patients with Trinity Homecare
Arranging someone else to care for a loved one can feel like a big step. We understand that it’s important to find someone who feels right for the person, not simply someone who can cover the practical tasks.
Trinity has provided care at home for 30 years, including support for people living with cancer and those receiving palliative care.
We take time to understand the person’s needs, personality, preferences and routines when matching them with a carer. For live-in care, you can see a carer’s profile before deciding whether they feel like the right fit.
A dedicated care manager coordinates the arrangement and remains involved if needs change or you have questions along the way. Where someone has more complex needs, our care teams can also access clinical guidance alongside the person’s existing healthcare professionals.
The person receiving care remains at the centre of the arrangement. Respite should feel like support that fits into their life, rather than someone coming in and taking over.
Frequently asked questions
What is respite care for someone with cancer?
Respite care is temporary professional care that gives a family member or regular carer time away from their caring responsibilities.
It can include personal care, help with meals and everyday tasks, companionship and support with mobility, depending on the person’s needs.
At home, the person can remain in familiar surroundings while someone else provides the agreed support.
How much does respite care cost for someone with cancer?
The cost depends on the type of care needed, how long it is required and whether you need visiting or live-in care.
Our guide to respite care costs explains some of the factors that can affect the cost.
The best way to understand what your particular arrangement would cost is to speak to the care team about the support you need.
Can respite care be arranged at short notice?
Sometimes. Trinity can provide emergency respite care, but this depends on the person’s needs, the assessment and whether a suitably matched carer is available.
If you need support quickly, tell the care team what help the person needs, where they live and when you need the care to start. They can then explain what may be possible.
Can someone receive respite care while receiving palliative care?
Yes. Respite care can be arranged alongside palliative care when it is suitable for the person.
The care plan should make clear what support the carer will provide and which aspects of care remain with the person’s nurses, doctors or other healthcare professionals.
How do I know when it’s time to arrange respite care?
You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling.
If you’re regularly exhausted, finding it difficult to keep up with work or other responsibilities, missing your own appointments or simply wishing you had more time for yourself, it may be worth talking about respite care.
You can also arrange support because you have a holiday or another commitment coming up. You don’t need a crisis as a reason to have a break.
Talk to us about taking a break from caring
You may already know exactly when you need a break. Or you may simply know that you’re finding things harder and could use some help.
Either way, you don’t need to have everything worked out before you get in touch.
Our care experts can listen to what’s happening, talk through what the person needs and explain what respite care at home could look like for both of you.
Call 0207 183 4884 for a free, no-obligation conversation, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, or Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
You can also make an online enquiry and a member of the team will be in touch.
