Carers Chill4us | Carers message board

I am constantly pestered by Community Mental Health team, Social worker and GP to take a respite break. My response has been the same over the last 13 years as follows:-

1) The places I have seen that would take Jean for a week do not meet her requirements nor do they meet my standards.

2) What would I do with a weeks holiday? Walk alone down Blackpool Promenade wearing a Kiss me Quick hat?

3) Until such times as Jean is totally bedridden and immobile I will continue to take her on holiday with me providing I can see that she is getting some benefit, however small, from the experience.

4) I have absolutely no faith in paid carers looking after Jean after a few years of their inability to do anything other than sit around texting and phoning.

Derek and Jean.

I have passed all your posts on, so thank you very much.
I will let you know what happens next.

I would never leave my carees without knowing 110% that they are well cared for and happy.x

Hi guys, I've just come back from a Respite break - weekend at Blackpool with my mum for company.
We had a Direct Payment for 7 years and I had 3 weeks per year now we've had an SDS (Self Directed Support) care-package for almost two years and a block of funding is included to take respite breaks both together as a couple with or without our daughter who is our P.A. and also a time out for me too. When I go away, Lisa moves into our home to provide replacement care, my mum and I book a weekend away and the SDS pays my portion.
If it works for you, it's a good system! Our quality of life is so vastly improved.
I wish everyone had time out it's so very important.
I think it's the glue that holds everything all together and helps us continue caring.
hu****
Marie x

We had a break away together a few weeks ago to the Isle of White. While away hubby only had on slight issue with his PTSD and that was ad he was getting into bed one night. You would have thought there was nothing wrong with him while we were there.

It was all back to the normal up and down days when we got back.

It was the first full weeks holiday we have had in 6 years.  Normally we can only manage a few days at a time.

I have never had a break away on my own.

It's so long since I have had a break that I wouldn't know what to do with myself! would love to go somewhere tho, where there is some kind of themed break, e.g. crafts, country and western etc., x Jeanne