Respite Care for Carers: Why Taking a Break Is Not Selfish

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 03:59:10 +0000

You hear it all the time: “Look after yourself.” But if you’re a carer, that advice can feel like a joke. Most days, you’re running on caffeine, adrenaline, and sheer necessity, not some perfect self-care routine from a magazine. When I first started caring, I honestly thought needing a break or asking about quality respite care services for carers meant I was letting everyone down or not strong enough. It took a few sleepless nights and hard talks with other carers before I realised how common that guilt is, and how unhelpful it actually is. The truth? Taking a break isn’t about failing your loved one. It’s what actually keeps you showing up, day after day, without burning out. Talking to carers who’d been through it, I learned that even the best need support. That’s not a weakness at all.