Going on holiday as a family carer

Caring for a family member is a full-time job for many, and as rewarding as it is, it isn’t one that provides you with many breaks or time off.

According to the 2021 census, it’s estimated that there are more than five million people aged five and over providing unpaid care for relatives and loved ones across England and Wales.

Whilst millions of people are committed to providing care for their family members or loved ones, we understand family carers need a break from time to time.

With us being in the midst of summer and holiday season, some family carers may be considering a last minute holiday – UK or abroad – but are concerned about the loved one they regularly care for.

You might be wondering, “can you go on holiday as a family carer?”, or “who will care for my family member while I’m on holiday?” – we’re here to answer those very questions for you.

What is a family carer?

First things first, a family carer is simply a member of family that has taken on the responsibility of caring for a loved one due to illness, disability or frailty because of age.

Anyone can be a family carer, from children to adults. Although being a family carer can be a full-time job in terms of time, it is does come with a number of things to consider – including whether this will impact your current job, home life and finances, to name a few.

Family carers support their loved ones with tasks such as:

• Washing, bathing and dressing
• Food prep, meal times and nutrition
• Medication
• Household maintenance
• Supporting continence needs
• Supporting whilst out and about

Can I go on holiday as a family carer?

The simple answer to this is, yes!

However, we understand that getting to that holiday is by no means simple and there is a lot to consider, arrange and prioritise beforehand.

As a family carer, it’s important to take the time that you need for yourself. In order to provide the very best care, you need to also feel well rested, energised and confident in your abilities to care.

This means taking a break when you need to – whether it’s a night, a weekend or a week’s holiday.

It can feel stressful and overwhelming deciding whether to bring the family member along with you, or whether to arrange respite care whilst you’re away.

How can I go on holiday as a family carer?

If you’re a family carer and are looking to go on holiday, then you have a number of options available to you. These options include:

• Taking your family member with you, with additional support from a professional care provider
• Utilising short-term live-in respite care
• Utilising short-term visiting care
• Asking friends and other family members to support
• Using the services of a residential care provider

At Radis, we offer a variety of short-term and respite care services. If the person who requires support would like to stay at home, you could arrange the support of a Radis live-in care worker, who will go and stay with the person requiring care until the family member returns home from their holiday.

Our priority is providing peace of mind to families, ensuring that their loved ones are safe and well-looked after in exactly the same way as before. We aim to relieve any potential feelings of upset and anxiety of the family carer going on holiday, making sure that they are able to relax and enjoy their much-needed break.

It is a huge decision, and we understand just how hard it can be to leave a loved one that you care for, even if it is for a short amount of time.

If your family member doesn’t require a carer to live with them 24/7 then our visiting care services are also available. This would provide people with regular check-ins and visits to their home, helping them with mealtimes, personal hygiene, medication or household tasks.

Another option to consider if your loved one is happy to be away from home, is to enlist the support of one of our extra care housing services for the duration of your holiday. This enables people to live independently with the option of flexible care and support should they need it.

Whether you’re a family carer or not, we also understand that leaving a family member may not be an option when it comes to going on holiday, and you may want to take them along with you (if they are able) – with a little additional help and support from a professional carer.

If this is the case, then we can take away all elements of stress and worry by supporting with the coordination and planning of any additional services or equipment required, keeping your loved one feeling safe and secure.

By taking your family member or loved one along with you, you are able to enjoy your time away feeling confident that they are being well-looked after whilst also being able to enjoy their company.

There are various options available if you’re a family carer looking to go on holiday, so get in touch with our team to find out more by emailing enquiries@radis.co.uk.