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CQC Registered • Nurse-Led • London

Respite Care London

Professional, compassionate respite care so family carers can rest and recharge, without guilt or worry, and keep giving the support their loved one relies on.

CQC Registered
Nurse-Led
On-Call Out of Hours
Free Consultation
Respite Care

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care is a temporary, professional stand-in for the care normally given by a family member or informal carer. Whether you need a few hours, a weekend, or cover for a longer period, Kome Care steps in smoothly. We keep up the same quality of care, follow established routines, and give family carers the real break they need to look after their own wellbeing. Over 50% of carers report that their health has suffered as a direct result of caring, so respite is not a luxury. It is essential.

Planned Respite Breaks

Scheduled breaks arranged in advance so you can plan time to rest and recharge.

Emergency Cover

Rapid cover when you're suddenly unwell or an unexpected situation arises.

Live-in Respite

A carer lives in the home for several days while the family carer takes an extended break.

Day Visits

Daytime visits providing support and company during the hours you need cover.

Night-time Respite

Overnight support so you can sleep, knowing your loved one is safe and cared for.

Carer Support & Advice

Guidance on funding, carer's assessments, and looking after your own wellbeing.

Who Is This Service For?

  • Family carers who need planned breaks for holidays, work, or personal commitments
  • Carers experiencing burnout, exhaustion, or health concerns of their own
  • Families requiring emergency cover at short notice
  • Individuals who need overnight or 24-hour support during longer respite periods
  • Those caring for someone with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, or complex needs
  • Carers who want regular, scheduled respite built into their care routine

Speak to our care team today

Free consultation, no obligation. We aim to respond promptly during enquiry hours.

020 8075 5966

How It Works

1

Free Consultation

Call or enquire online. We aim to respond promptly during enquiry hours.

2
Needs Assessment

A nurse visits to assess needs, at no cost and with no obligation.

3
Care Plan Built

A personalised plan is created around the individual.

4
Care Begins

Matched carer starts, with ongoing clinical oversight.

“Will Somebody Else Know How They Like Things Done?”

This is the question family carers ask more than any other, and it is the real reason respite gets put off. You have spent years learning how someone takes their tea, which side they need help getting out of bed, and what a bad morning looks like before it becomes one. Handing that over feels impossible.

That is why the handover before respite starts is thorough rather than a formality. We gather what actually matters:

  • The usual routine, and how the day is normally shaped
  • Washing and dressing preferences
  • Medication, meals and drinks
  • Mobility, sleep and continence
  • Communication — including what works when words are difficult
  • Hobbies, culture and faith
  • Behavioural or emotional needs, and known risks
  • How the family wants to stay involved
  • Anything else that helps the person feel settled

The care professional then follows the agreed care plan as closely as they can. The aim is not to replicate you exactly — nobody can. It is to make the change of face feel as small and unalarming as possible.

Carer Handover and Continuity of Care

Continuity matters, particularly for clients with dementia or complex needs who can be unsettled by changes in routine. Before every respite placement, we sit down with the family carer for a thorough handover, noting daily routines, preferences, medication schedules, dietary requirements, and any behavioural or clinical considerations. Our carers follow those routines closely, so familiarity becomes a source of comfort.

We treat every family as a team. Supporting the carer matters to us as much as caring for the individual, and we are always available to talk through concerns, adjust arrangements, or simply listen during what can be an emotionally difficult time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Respite care provides a temporary break for family and informal carers, with professional support stepping in to care for the individual during that time. It can range from a few hours to several weeks.
Routine respite may sometimes be arranged relatively quickly, subject to assessment, location, the care required and whether suitable staff are available. Complex-care respite can take longer where specialist staffing, training or competency development is needed. We confirm a realistic start date once those arrangements have been reviewed.
Yes. Before care begins, we conduct a thorough handover with the family carer to understand routines, preferences, medications, and any specific needs.
We do not advertise a guaranteed emergency respite service. If circumstances change unexpectedly, contact us and we will assess whether safe cover can be arranged against the person's needs and the availability of appropriately skilled staff. If someone is at immediate risk or has an urgent medical need, contact the relevant emergency or statutory service.
Respite care is flexible. It can be as short as a few hours per week, or it can involve a carer living in the home for several weeks while the family carer takes an extended break. We work around whatever timeframe is needed.
Potentially. We assess short-notice requests individually, against the person's needs and whether appropriately skilled staff are available. We do not guarantee immediate or emergency cover. If someone would otherwise be left without essential care or is at immediate risk, contact the relevant statutory or emergency service as well.
Potentially yes. Family carers may be entitled to a Carer's Assessment from their local authority, which can lead to a respite allowance. Some individuals also qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. Our team can advise on your specific situation at no cost.
We strongly recommend consistency of carer, especially for clients with dementia or complex needs. We will always try to assign the same carer or a small, familiar team for repeat respite bookings, which keeps disruption and anxiety to a minimum for the person being cared for.

7 Signs It's Time to Consider Respite Care

Recognising when a family carer needs support can be difficult, and carers often underestimate their own exhaustion. Here are seven clear signs that professional respite care in London may be needed:

  1. Persistent exhaustion: feeling tired even after sleeping, struggling to complete daily tasks
  2. Increasing irritability or emotional changes: snapping at the person you care for, feeling overwhelmed or low
  3. Neglecting your own health: skipping medical appointments, ignoring symptoms, not eating properly
  4. Social isolation: withdrawing from friends, family, and activities you once enjoyed
  5. Feeling trapped or resentful: feeling guilty about normal frustration or anger
  6. The person you care for has increasing needs: their condition has progressed beyond what one person can safely manage alone
  7. An upcoming life event: a holiday, medical procedure, or work commitment that will take you away from caring

If any of these apply, speaking to a professional respite care provider is a positive, responsible step. It is not a sign of failure.

Types of Respite Care We Offer in London

Day Visit Respite (hourly)

Flexible hourly daytime cover, ideal for short breaks during the day.

Overnight Respite (sleep-in)

A carer stays overnight and is on hand if needed while you rest.

Waking Night Respite

An awake carer providing active support and supervision throughout the night.

Live-in Respite (multi-day)

A dedicated carer lives in for several days, ideal for holidays or recovery.

Short-Notice Respite

Circumstances change — a family carer becomes unwell, or something urgent comes up. We assess short-notice requests individually against the person’s needs and the availability of appropriately skilled staff. We do not guarantee immediate or emergency cover, and if someone would otherwise be left without essential care, contact the relevant statutory or emergency service as well.

Planned Regular Respite

Recurring scheduled breaks, weekly or monthly, for ongoing carer relief.

All types are delivered by our CQC-registered carers under nurse-led oversight, following a thorough handover of your loved one's routine, preferences, and care needs.

Respite Care Costs in London

The cost of respite care in London depends on the type of support, hours required, and level of clinical need. Kome Care provides transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden fees:

  • Hourly care visits: from £19 per hour, depending on care package and frequency
  • Overnight sleep-in respite: a fixed nightly rate, confirmed at your free assessment
  • Live-in respite: a weekly rate, usually more cost-effective than a residential care home short-stay
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare: some families qualify for fully funded care, and we can advise on eligibility at no cost
  • Local authority funding: a Carer's Assessment from your London borough may entitle the family carer to a respite allowance

The first step is to request a free care needs assessment. Our team will explain all costs and funding options in plain language, with no obligation to proceed.

Explore Funding Options

London Boroughs We Cover for Respite Care

We provide respite care across Greater London, including:

Barnet
Camden
Hackney
Haringey
Islington
Lambeth
Lewisham
Southwark
Tower Hamlets
Newham
Greenwich
Waltham Forest
Redbridge
Enfield
Brent
Ealing
Hounslow
Wandsworth
Merton
Sutton
Croydon
Bromley
Havering
Barking & Dagenham

Not sure if we cover your area? Call us on 020 8075 5966 and we will always try to help.

Respite care near you

We provide this service across the areas below. Each page covers the neighbourhoods we reach and how to arrange care there.

See every area we cover across London. Not listed? Ask about your area — we will tell you honestly whether we can build a safe, sustainable team where you are.

Call 020 8075 5966 Free assessment