Short breaks from caring

Short breaks allow you to rest, enjoy hobbies or spend time with friends or family. 

Short breaks can take the form you need to help your health and wellbeing, such as:

• short holidays
• overnight breaks
• an hour for yourself each week
• a one-off occasion

You can take breaks on your own or with the person you care for with extra help. 

A break may involve someone else providing residential care or care at home (also called respite care or replacement care). 

Financial help for short breaks

You may be able to get financial help to take short breaks from:

• the Time to Live fund – check how to apply for Time to Live on Shared Care Scotland
• Take a Break Scotland (for carers of disabled children)
• your local council

Ask your carer centre if there's local financial help for short breaks. 

Support from your local council

You may be eligible for financial support from your local council to take short breaks. 

Ask your local social work service for an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement. They must consider if you need short breaks when creating your plan or statement. 

If you're eligible for breaks, your plan or statement will state what you need and how your breaks will be arranged. For example, the council may give you money to arrange your own breaks (a 'self-directed support direct payment'). 

Emergency respite care

You may need emergency respite care in unexpected situations, for example, if you're ill and unable to provide care. 

You can ask for emergency support from your local council even if you do not:

• have an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement 
• currently get support from the council 

Contact your local social work service if you need emergency respite care. 

Your local carer centre can also help you to create an emergency care plan. 

Find your local council's social work service.