Same carers, every visit - familiarity builds real trust.
Service
Respite Care at Home
Respite care at home gives families time to step back, rest or take a break, while their loved one continues to receive reliable support in familiar surroundings. Horizons Homecare provides tailored respite care for adults aged 18+, with support that can be arranged for 30 minutes, an hour, a few hours, regular daily visits or a longer period such as holiday cover. The aim is simple: to make sure the person receiving support stays safe, comfortable and well looked after, while the family carer gets the time they need.
Flexible — from 30 minutes to holiday cover and everything in between
Support in familiar surroundings so routine is maintained
Same trusted carers to give families genuine peace of mind
Trusted care in action
Real care settings, consistent carers, and practical support families can rely on.
Families stay informed with clear, regular updates.
A local team with deep roots across Lancashire communities.
Who is this for?
Is this service right for you?
This service is for both the person receiving support and the family member or friend who usually provides that support. Very often, respite care is arranged by a husband, wife, partner, son, daughter or other loved one who is doing a great deal day to day and needs time away without feeling they are letting anyone down.
Common situations
- A family carer needs regular time to rest, attend appointments or simply step back
- Planning a holiday and needing dependable cover while away
- The current provider cannot offer extra visits or flexibility when it is needed
What's included
What this service covers
Personal care services
Medication assistance at home
Meal preparation
Home help services
Companionship
Mobility support
Routines around the home
Support with appointments
Complex care at home
Live-in care at home
How we deliver
How this service works
1
Get in touch
We talk with you about what support is needed and how long the break needs to be.
2
Free care assessment
We arrange a no obligation care assessment at home.
3
Meet your care team
Where possible we introduce the care team in advance so the start of respite feels comfortable and familiar.
4
Ongoing review
Respite can be regular, occasional or one-off — we build support around what real life requires.
Ready to discuss Respite Care at Home?
Book a free, no-obligation care assessment today.
What is respite care at home?
Respite care means taking a break from caring while the person you support is looked after by someone else. The NHS says respite care can range from a few hours of help to a short stay elsewhere, while NICE says carers' breaks can be provided in the person's own home for a few hours, an evening, overnight or longer, and can be one-off or regular. At Horizons Homecare, respite care at home means support delivered in the person's own home, built around their usual routine, preferences and needs. That can make the break feel easier for everyone, because the person receiving support stays in familiar surroundings and the family carer can step away knowing someone trusted is there. For some families, respite is a regular part of life. For others, it is something they arrange for a holiday, an appointment, a period of illness, or simply because they need time to rest and recharge. What matters is that the support fits real life.
Why families often look for respite care
Many people try to manage on their own for as long as possible. Families often want to do everything themselves, but over time it can become exhausting to be both family and full-time carer at once. Sometimes the issue is not a lack of love or commitment. It is simply that the caring role has become relentless. Carers UK and the NHS both describe respite and carers' breaks as support that helps carers step back, protect their own wellbeing and continue caring in a more sustainable way. Other families come to us because their current provider cannot offer extra cover when it is needed. They may need additional visits, holiday cover or more flexibility, and they want to know their loved one will still receive dependable support from carers who understand the situation properly.
Short regular breaks or longer holiday cover
One of the strengths of respite care at home is that it can be flexible. Some people only need a short visit each day so the usual carer can go out, attend appointments, catch up on rest or simply have a little time to themselves. Others need a longer block of support because they are planning a holiday, recovering from illness themselves, or dealing with a busy period where they cannot provide the same level of help temporarily. NICE's quality standard on carers' breaks says services should offer a range of options in duration, timing, frequency and type of break so the support actually matches the carer's needs. At Horizons Homecare, the routine is built around the person and the family, not forced into one fixed pattern.
Why respite at home can feel easier than other options
For many families, home-based respite feels less disruptive than arranging a temporary stay somewhere else. The person receiving support can stay in familiar surroundings, keep to a more normal routine, and continue being supported in the way that suits them best. NICE specifically describes carers' breaks, including respite care, as short-term care for the person with care needs in their own home or in a residential setting, which means home-based respite is a recognised and appropriate option. That can be especially valuable for people living with dementia, disability, limited mobility or long-term conditions, where routine, familiarity and trusted faces matter a great deal.
Why continuity matters so much in respite care
The worries people have about respite care are often the same worries they have about any support at home. Will the carers have the right skills? Will they understand the person properly? Will the same people come? Will they turn up on time? Will preferences around male or female carers be respected? Will the support feel kind, calm and professional? Those concerns are completely understandable. Respite only works if the family genuinely trusts the people stepping in. Horizons Homecare is built around continuity of care. Our approach is simple: Same carers. On time, every time. Familiar carers help the person receiving support feel more settled, and they give the family greater peace of mind when they step away.
Visiting respite or live-in respite
Respite care does not only fit into one model. Some people need one or two short visits a day. Others need several visits. Some may need Live-in care at home for a period of time so that support is there more continuously while the regular carer is away. Horizons Homecare provides both visiting care and live-in care. The best option depends on the person's needs, how much support is usually required, and what will feel safest and most comfortable for everyone involved. The aim is not to push one type of service over another. It is to put the right level of support in place for the situation.
Can respite care be regular, occasional or one-off?
Yes. Respite care can be arranged as a regular part of the week, as occasional support when needed, or as a one-off arrangement for a holiday, event or busy period. NICE and the NHS both recognise that carers' breaks can be flexible and can range from short visits to longer arrangements depending on circumstances. That flexibility is important, because not every family needs the same thing. Some people need a dependable hour every afternoon. Others need cover for a week away. Good respite should fit around real life.
FAQs
Common questions
What is respite care at home?+
Respite care at home is short-term or regular support that allows a family carer to take a break while the person they support continues to receive care at home. The NHS says respite care means taking a break from caring while the person you care for is looked after by someone else.
Who is respite care for?+
It is for both the person receiving support and the family carer. It can help when a husband, wife, partner, son, daughter or other loved one needs time to rest, go out, go on holiday or step back from caring for a while, while still making sure the person is properly supported.
Can respite care be just 30 minutes or an hour?+
Yes. Respite care does not have to mean a long block of time. Some families only need 30 minutes, an hour or a couple of hours each day, while others need longer visits or more extended cover.
Can I arrange respite care so I can go on holiday?+
Yes. Many families use respite care so they can take a holiday or time away knowing their loved one is still being looked after at home. Support can be planned around the person's usual routine and level of need.
Can respite care be regular every day or every week?+
Yes. NICE says carers' breaks may be one-off or more regular arrangements, and the type, timing and frequency should meet the carer's needs.
Is respite care available at home or only in a care home?+
It can be provided at home. NICE says carers' breaks, including respite care, can be provided in the person's own home or in a residential setting.
Can respite care include personal care and medication support?+
Yes. Respite care can include Personal care services, Medication assistance at home, meals, home help, companionship and more specialist support depending on what the person needs.
Can respite care be funded?+
Sometimes. Funding depends on circumstances, needs assessments and whether the local council or other routes can help. The NHS says carers may be able to access respite options through local council support, and charging and funding can vary depending on assessments and where you live.
Why Horizons
Why choose Horizons for this service
Continuity of care
Same familiar carers, on time, every time.
CQC regulated
Professionally regulated care.
24/7 support
Emergency on-call outside office hours.
Related services
You might also need
Personal Care at Home
CQC regulated personal care at home delivered with dignity and respect, helping adults with washing, dressing, toileting and personal hygiene.
View service →Medication Assistance and Support at Home
Tailored medication assistance at home for adults aged 18+, from simple reminders through to full administration, with trained carers and accurate records every visit.
View service →Home Help Services at Home
Flexible home help services for adults aged 18+, including cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping and errands to keep daily life manageable and independent.
View service →Advice centre
Helpful guides
Family Support
Managing Carer Burnout: Recognising the Signs and Asking for Help
If you're caring for an elderly relative alongside work and family, exhaustion is not weakness - it's a signal that you need more support. Learn what carer burnout looks like and how professional care can help you sustain this role.
Getting StartedUnderstanding What Home Care Can and Cannot Do
Home care is versatile and powerful, but it has limits. Understanding what professional carers can provide - and what falls outside their scope - helps families plan realistically and recognise when additional support is needed.
Real Stories
Client stories and family confidence
Consistent support and clear communication help families feel reassured from the first visit.
The same carer, every visit - routines that feel like home.
Personal care delivered with patience, dignity and respect.
Families feel reassured from the very first meeting.
"Our care team feels like an extension of our family. They are reliable, kind, and always keep us updated."Family member, Lancashire
Ready to discuss respite care at home?
Our team can explain options and recommend a plan based on your situation - with no obligation.