Emergency and Planned
Respite Care at Home in across Surrey and London
Caring for a loved one is a privilege, but it is also exhausting. Every family carer deserves time to rest and recover. Our professional respite carers step in seamlessly so you can take a proper break, knowing your loved one is safe, comfortable, and in genuinely caring hands.
What is Respite Care at Home?
Respite care is professional, temporary support provided to give family carers a planned or emergency break from their caring responsibilities. It means a trained SD Care carer steps in to look after your loved one at home, maintaining their usual routines and keeping everything as normal as possible while you take the time you need.
Respite can be arranged for a few hours, a single day, a full week, or longer periods. It can be planned well in advance for a holiday or a medical procedure, or arranged at short notice when an unexpected situation arises. Either way, our team moves quickly to ensure your loved one receives consistent, compassionate care from the moment we arrive.
- Personal care including washing, dressing and grooming with full dignity
- Medication reminders and safe administration throughout the day
- Meal preparation and ensuring proper nutrition during your absence
- Companionship, activities and gentle conversation to keep spirits up
- Overnight or live-in cover for longer breaks and planned holidays
When Should You Consider
Respite Care at Home?
Carer burnout is real and it can happen gradually. If any of the following feel familiar, it may be time to arrange some proper support for yourself as well as your loved one.
You are exhausted
You are physically and emotionally drained. You cannot remember the last time you slept properly or had a day to yourself.
A holiday or event is planned
You have a wedding, family trip, or personal commitment coming up and need trusted cover for your loved one at home.
You have your own health needs
You are unwell, recovering from surgery, or attending medical appointments and cannot provide care safely for a period.
Your mood has changed
You are feeling resentful, anxious, or tearful more often than not. These feelings are a clear signal that you need support too.
Work commitments are building
You are a working carer and the pressure of managing both your career and caring responsibilities has become unmanageable.
Your relationship is under strain
The demands of caring have started to affect your relationship with your partner, children, or other close family members.
Care needs have increased suddenly
Your loved one has been discharged from hospital or their condition has deteriorated, and you need urgent, temporary help.
The other carer is unavailable
Your usual caring partner, whether a sibling or another family member, is unavailable for a period and cover is needed urgently.
Why Choose SD Care for
Respite Support?
Handing over the care of a loved one, even temporarily, requires complete confidence in the person stepping in. At SD Care, we understand that trust is earned, not assumed. Our carers are introduced carefully, briefed thoroughly on your loved one’s routines and preferences, and supported by a team of local care managers throughout.
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CQC Regulated
We are fully registered with the Care Quality Commission and independently inspected. Every aspect of our service is held to the highest national standards for safety, dignity, and quality.
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ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Certified by DNV to ISO 9001:2015, our quality management system guarantees a consistent, reliable, and well-managed respite service across all our locations in Surrey and London.
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Emergency and Planned Cover
Whether you need to plan weeks in advance or require urgent support within 24 to 48 hours, our team responds quickly and professionally to both situations without compromising on quality.
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Local Teams Across Surrey and London
With teams covering 30 locations, we can respond promptly across Surrey and Greater London. Your loved one is supported by a local professional who knows the area and community.
What Families Say About SD Care
Read genuine feedback from families across Surrey and London who trust us with the care of their loved ones.
I am happy with all the carers that come to me. They are very good and very thorough, and I don’t want to change them as they do a good job. They are very good, and they remind me of my tablets.
Excellent! No complaints. They are looking after me extremely well. I love them all; they cheer me up. I always look forward to who’s coming.
Amazing! Thanks again for all your help sorting out care for my mum. Viki is amazing!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does respite care at home cost in Surrey and London?
Our prices start from £24 per hour. Our fees vary based on specific care needs and the location of the client. You can call us to arrange a free initial assessment or talk to our AI chatbot below for more information.
We always provide a transparent, written breakdown of all costs before any care begins. There are no hidden fees, and we will talk through all available funding options during your assessment.
Can you arrange respite care at short notice or in an emergency?
Yes. We understand that emergencies do not give advance warning. In urgent situations, we can often arrange respite cover within 24 to 48 hours of your call. Our team will work as quickly as possible to find the right carer for your loved one and brief them thoroughly before the first visit.
If you are in an urgent situation right now, please call us directly on 01483 662 910 (Surrey) or 020 8146 6195 (London) and our team will do everything we can to help.
How long can a period of respite care last?
Respite care can be arranged for as little as a few hours or for several weeks. We offer hourly respite visits, full-day cover, overnight sitting, and longer live-in respite for family carers who need an extended break or are going on holiday.
There is no minimum or maximum period. We build the arrangement entirely around your needs and your loved one’s routine.
Will my loved one have the same carer during the respite period?
We aim to provide as much consistency as possible. For shorter periods of respite, we do our best to assign the same carer throughout. For longer periods, we will introduce a small, consistent team rather than a rotating roster of unfamiliar faces.
Before care begins, we share a detailed handover with the carer covering your loved one’s routines, preferences, medical needs, and personality. The goal is to make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible for everyone.
What is the difference between respite care at home and a respite care home?
Respite care at home means your loved one stays in their own familiar environment while a professional carer provides support in your place. This is often far less disorienting and distressing than a temporary move to a residential care facility, particularly for people living with dementia or anxiety.
Many families find that home-based respite is better tolerated by their loved one and results in fewer behavioural changes or unsettled periods during and after the break.
What funding is available to help pay for respite care?
There are several funding routes that may be available to you. A local authority carer’s assessment can result in a carer’s personal budget specifically to fund respite breaks. Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment can also be used towards respite care costs.
In some cases, NHS Continuing Healthcare funding may cover respite if your loved one has significant health needs. We are happy to guide you through the relevant options during your free assessment. See all funding options.
Can SD Care provide overnight or live-in respite cover?
Yes. We provide overnight sitting, waking night cover, and full live-in respite care for family carers who need a longer break. A live-in carer stays in the home, provides all necessary support throughout the day and night, and maintains your loved one’s usual routine and surroundings.
Live-in respite is particularly popular for family carers going on holiday, recovering from a hospital procedure, or simply in need of a restorative break of several days or more.
How do you ensure the handover goes smoothly?
Before care begins, our care manager will conduct a full assessment of your loved one’s needs, preferences, daily routines, medical requirements, and any specific wishes you have. This is documented in a personalised care plan that the respite carer reads thoroughly in advance.
Where possible, we arrange a brief introductory visit so the carer can meet your loved one before the main period of care begins. You are also welcome to leave written instructions, contact numbers, and any other guidance to help things run smoothly in your absence.
Are your carers trained to support people with dementia or complex needs during respite?
Yes. All SD Care carers receive training in dementia care, medication management, and supporting clients with a range of complex physical and cognitive needs. When arranging respite for a client with specific requirements, we match only carers who have the relevant experience and training.
If your loved one has a particular condition or requires specialist support, please let us know during the initial call so we can make the best possible match from the outset.
Which areas do you cover for respite care in Surrey and London?
We provide respite care across 30 locations in Surrey and London, including Guildford, Woking, Godalming, Richmond, Ealing, Chiswick, Kingston, Merton, Bromley and Croydon, among many others.
If you are unsure whether we cover your area, please call us and we will do our best to help or point you in the right direction. See all our locations.
Have a Quick Question About Respite Care?
Our AI assistant is available around the clock to answer your questions about costs, how respite care works, and how quickly we can start. It is a great first step, but our human team is always just a phone call away if you would prefer to speak with someone directly.