Home care · Hampshire
Respite care in Alton
Respite care gives a family carer time off: it can be a few hours each week at home, or a brief stay in a care home. 16 agencies registered with CQC cover Alton. Check with each one that it provides this kind of care.
Updated 27 October 2026 (CQC register) · Prices: Prices typically seen across England in 2026
Quick summary
- Of the 16 CQC-registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Alton, 12 have a Good or Outstanding rating.
- Ask Hampshire council for a care needs assessment, which is free, and the person caring for them can have their own carer's assessment.
- The CQC register does not say who provides respite care: ask the agencies directly.
- Expect the visiting rate, typically around £32–£34 an hour, for respite at home. A short stay in one of the 10 local care homes is charged by the week.
Reference this page as: The Care Panel, "Respite care in Alton", Oct 2026, based on the CQC register.
Your respite options
- Respite at home: a few hours of visits, or a live-in carer for days or weeks while you are away.
- Care home stay: usually one or two weeks, booked well ahead for holiday periods. Ask the 10 registered care homes in Alton whether they take short stays.
- Day centre: run by the council or a charity.
Start with a carer's assessment
If you look after someone, you are entitled to your own free carer's assessment from Hampshire council, separate from the assessment of the person you care for. It looks at the effect caring has on you and can lead to funded breaks, a carer's personal budget or other support. Carers UK runs a free helpline on 0808 808 7777. Getting assessed by Hampshire council.
If you are paying privately
- Agencies: ask for the minimum visit length and the notice they need.
- Care homes: ask whether rooms are kept for short stays, and visit before booking.
- Before the stay: share the care plan, the medicines and the daily routine.
What the register shows for Alton
100% of rated agencies covering Alton are Good or Outstanding, compared with 90% of those rated among the 721 we list across Hampshire. Two-year-old ratings or newer: 0% covering Alton, 16% across Hampshire. 1 is rated Outstanding here, out of 17 across Hampshire. Alton leads the 6 closest towns on our site on the share of every listed agency rated Good or Outstanding, at 75%, ahead of Whitehill (70%). 13 of the 16 agencies (81%) list dementia as a specialism, against 82% across Hampshire. The oldest current rating dates from October 2017 (Treloar College). The newest registration is Providence Home Care Ltd, registered with CQC in March 2026. On their CQC registrations, 14 of 16 list physical disabilities, 9 of 16 list learning disabilities and 4 of 16 list mental health conditions.
What respite care costs in Alton
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,555 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,830 a week |
What the council pays (Hampshire County Council): £25.90 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,245 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,365 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
The gap between agencies is bigger than the gap between regions. Ask for prices in writing, and check what weekends and bank holidays cost. The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Check what you would pay · Weekly cost calculator
Home care agencies serving Alton
Check with each agency that it offers respite care. Order: CQC rating, then how recent, then distance.
Right at Home Alton and Bordon
Est. £30–£37/hr
Abounding Support & Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Melody Care Alton
Est. £30–£37/hr
Altonian Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Yourlife (Alton)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Acqua Doria
Est. £30–£37/hr
Brendoncare Mary Rose Mews
Est. £30–£37/hr
Request Services Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Treloar College
Est. £32–£39/hr
Home Instead
Est. £33–£40/hr
Absolute Healthcare Providers
Est. £30–£37/hr
Karis Care Services Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
RTR Care Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
Dame Care Solutions
Est. £29–£36/hr
Providence Home Care Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
Aviv Healthcare Limited (Offices)
Est. £29–£36/hr
Questions about respite care in Alton
Who provides respite care in Alton?
The CQC register does not show who offers respite care. There are 16 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Alton, 12 of them rated Good or Outstanding, so ask each one.
Is there free respite care?
Free or low-cost sitting services are run by charities and carers' centres. The council can also arrange or fund breaks when a carer's assessment, which you request from Hampshire council, shows you are eligible.
When should we book a respite stay in a care home?
Several weeks if you can, and longer for school holidays. Not every home keeps rooms for short stays, so ask when you first call.
How good are home care agencies around Alton?
100% Good or Outstanding (12 of 12 rated). 0 were inspected or rated within two years, and 13 are registered for dementia.
Arranging respite care in Alton?
Tell us what's needed once. Featured partners and up to three rated agencies that take enquiries through us reply to you directly, by email.
Care options in Alton
Respite care in nearby towns
- Respite care in Bordon 5.4 mi
- Respite care in Whitehill 5.7 mi
- Respite care in Liss 8.3 mi
- Respite care in Farnham 8.8 mi
- Respite care in Hook 9.3 mi
- Respite care in Basingstoke 9.7 mi
- Respite care in Fleet 10.4 mi
- Respite care in Oakley 11.1 mi
Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.