What Does Respite Care Include In A Care Home
If you’re planning respite care in a care home, you probably have a lot of questions.

From first arriving at the home and settling in, to meals, daily routines and the support provided throughout the day and night, a respite stay in a care home should feel familiar and reassuring.

This guide helps families know what they can expect during a short-term stay, helping carers feel confident that their loved one is supported, comfortable and well looked after.

What Does Respite Care Include in a Care Home?

Respite care in a care home includes everything from support with daily routines and delicious meals to personal care and medication, alongside supervision and reassurance throughout the day and night. During a short stay, residents are cared for in the same way as long-term residents, following familiar routines so life continues as normally as possible.

Before Arrival and Settling In

Before a respite stay, the care home will usually ask a few practical questions all about your loved one and their lifestyle. These are about everyday routines, medications to take , mobility levels and anything that helps your family member feel at ease. There is no expectation that everything should be written down perfectly, you’re just giving staff a clear picture of your loved one’s normal day-to-day life.

Families are often asked to bring clothing, toiletries, meds and personal items for the stay. Familiar items make the respite resident’s room feel less scary and unknown, especially during the first night or two.

On arrival, things are kept fairly simple. Staff will show your family member to their room, help with unpacking and explain where things are at a pace that suits them, because they might want to look around straight away or take their time to settle quietly.

The first day is usually a slow one for the new resident.

Meals, rest times and support follow standard patterns where possible, with fully trained staff nearby to offer reassurance. Ensuring routines remain undisturbed helps the stay feel manageable, particularly for residents who find new environments difficult.

Care and Support Throughout the Stay

Care during a respite stay follows the exact same approach used for full-time residents who live in the home:

Personal care

Assistance with washing, dressing, using the bathroom and moving around the home, based on your family member’s typical needs.

Medication

Medication given at the correct times and recorded by trained carers, in line with existing prescriptions and guidance.

Meals and drinks

Breakfast, lunch, evening meals and drinks throughout the day. Support will always be provided where needed.

Support during the day

Staff available to help with routines, spend time with residents or provide calm supervision in the background.

Support overnight

Night staff on duty to assist residents, carry out checks and respond if someone wakes or needs help.

Emotional Wellbeing and Familiarity

Short stays can feel unsettling at first, particularly for older people who rely on routine or familiar surroundings.

That’s why care teams pay attention to:

✓ Known routines, such as usual wake-up times, mealtimes and bedtime habits

✓ Familiar ways of doing things, including how personal care is usually supported

✓ Preferences around noise, company and shared spaces

✓ Signs that a resident may need quieter time or extra reassurance

Staff usually try to keep the same faces involved during your loved one’s stay, where possible, so residents aren’t constantly meeting new people, which can sometimes cause distress. It’s the small details, such as recognising habits or remembering preferences, that help residents settle more easily over the first few days.

Families are encouraged to share anything that helps their loved one feel more comfortable, especially if they become anxious in unfamiliar settings or struggle with change.

Keeping Families Informed

Family involvement is highly valued and important to care homes offering respite care.

Before the stay begins:

• Families are asked how they prefer to be contacted
• Expectations around updates are agreed in advance

If something changes

• Families are contacted if there is anything they need to know

During the stay:

• Confirmation that the resident has arrived and settled
• Updates shared if there are changes to health, medication or routines
• Staff available to answer questions by phone or in person

Visits and contact:

• Visits are welcomed during a respite stay
• Any limits or arrangements are discussed with families directly

When a Short Break Is Needed

A respite stay provides families with the breathing room they need while their loved one receives high-quality, safe and supportive care at all times.

From their first day through to the end of the stay, support is in place around your loved one’s routines, food, hobbies and their usual everyday needs, with staff available around the clock.

For many families, knowing what to expect during a respite stay makes the decision easier, allowing carers to step away for a short time while feeling confident that their family member is being cared for in a familiar, settled environment.

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