Breaks and holidays for people with MS
Thinking about taking a break and need some help to arrange it? Our MS Short Breaks Service is here for you.
We can help you to plan a break in the UK or abroad, or to look for residential or respite care.
Have a look at our hints and tips to help you organise your break.
Or call our MS Helpline on 0808 800 8000 to find out more about short breaks.
MS respite care
Respite care allows you and your carer to have a break, with a professional carer giving you support. It could take place:
- in your own home
- on holiday
- in a specialist centre, nursing home or care home.
Your local authority can give you information about respite care services near you.
One challenge can be finding a respite centre that will take someone who has a need for a specific type of care or who has particular needs.
Our MS Helpline can explore with you if local respite care can meet your needs. And they can put you in touch with the carers groups nearest to you who will know.
Respite care resources
These directories have information about care centres and other services that can offer respite care.
Carehome.co.uk
A directory of care homes and other residential services in the UK where you can search by location or 'respite care'.
Visit the carehome.co.uk website
Homecare.co.uk
Sister site to carehome.co.uk, this directory focuses on home care and nursing agencies in the UK.
All residential care and nursing homes in the UK have to register with the health and social care regulator that covers their nation. You can find inspection reports for homes and, if you need to, report any concerns you have.
England: Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Northern Ireland: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
Scotland: Care Inspectorate
Wales: Care and Social Services Inspectorate (CSSIW)
There are charities that run respite care and short break services.
Crossroads Care Schemes (England and Wales)
This network of independent charities provides support for carers and the people they care for through flexible breaks and care cover. Use the Carers Trust website to search for local support or call them for your nearest scheme.
Crossroads Caring (Scotland)
Service care attendants providing in-home care in Scotland while your carer takes a break.
Crossroads Caring for Carers (Northern Ireland)
Service care attendants providing in-home care in Northern Ireland while your carer takes a break.
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Offers:
- longer-term placements in their nursing and residential services
- stays in services with current vacancies
- day centres for days out socialising and new activities.
Northern Ireland: 07895 207 659
Revitalise
Provides breaks and holidays for disabled people and carers at their purpose-built centres in Southport and Chigwell. They also offer advice on funding from local authorities and other sources.
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About us
We’re the MS Society – a community of people living with MS, scientists, campaigners, volunteers and fundraisers.
We understand what life’s like with MS, and we support each other through the highs, lows and everything in between.
And we’re driving research into more – and better – treatments. For everyone.
Together, we are strong enough to stop MS.
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