Charges for respite care vary. With local authorities, some respite care services may be free of charge. Other services may have a cost that will be charged to the person with dementia.  

Find out about types of respite care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Including care at home, holidays and short breaks, and other options.

We cover how to discuss respite care with someone with dementia, deciding on the right type of replacement care and how to get a care needs assessment. This page is suitable for people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This information is for carers of a person with dementia. It explains what respite care is and how it can support both you and the person you care for. It lists the benefits of respite, the different options available and ways to pay for them. 

Once an assessment has been carried out the next step is to organise the care and support. You may need personal budgets and direct payments to pay for this care. Care and support plans should be reviewed to make sure they are still meeting the needs of the person with dementia or their carer. If you are unhappy with the care or support, you can make a complaint.

Not everyone will have their care and support paid for by their local authority. After a care needs assessment or a carer's assessment, a local authority will carry out a financial assessment to see who needs to pay, and how much.