Respite care in Worthing gives you a break from caring while someone else looks after your relative. It can be a few hours a week, a regular day out for them at a day centre, or a week or two of care at home or in a care home while you rest, travel or recover from an operation.
This guide to respite care Worthing and Adur families can use explains the options, what they cost, when West Sussex County Council helps pay, and how to book. The main message: plan respite before you are exhausted, not after.
In short: ask the council for a carer’s assessment, contact Carers Support West Sussex for local options and possible grants, and book care home short stays early, particularly for summer and Christmas.
What respite care Worthing options are there?
There are three main types. Many families use a mix.
| Type of respite | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| In-home respite | A carer comes to the home for a few hours, overnight, or lives in for a week or two | People who are unsettled by change, including many people with dementia |
| Day centres and day clubs | Your relative spends part of a day at a group with activities, a meal and company | Regular breaks and social contact for your relative |
| Care home short stay | Your relative stays in a residential or nursing home for a set period | Longer breaks, holidays, or when you need to be away |
In-home respite
A home care agency sends a carer to take over from you. This can be a regular afternoon each week, a sleeping or waking night so you can sleep, or live-in care for a week or two. Your relative stays in familiar surroundings, which is often the least unsettling option.
TuVida, a carers’ charity, also provides planned respite at home in West Sussex. Its planned respite is usually self-funded at hourly rates with a minimum two-hour session, and some subsidised places may be available. Ask them directly for current prices.
If you prefer a longer break with your relative at home, read our guide to live-in care in West Sussex.
Day centres and day clubs
Day centres, lunch clubs, memory cafés and activity groups give your relative a change of scene and give you a few hours back. Carers Support West Sussex keeps a directory of short break providers by area, including Adur and Worthing, and its “Take Time for You” leaflet lists local respite options. Some groups specialise in dementia.
Transport can be the sticking point. Ask whether the service collects people from home, and see our guide to transport support for older people.
Care home short stays
Many care homes in and around Worthing offer respite beds, subject to availability. A short stay can also be a gentle way for your relative to try a care home without a long-term commitment. Some homes set a minimum length of stay, and popular weeks book up months ahead.
Does the council pay for respite care?
It can. If a carer’s assessment shows you have eligible needs, or your relative’s needs assessment includes breaks for you, West Sussex County Council can fund or arrange respite. Your relative may be asked to contribute after a financial assessment, but the council must not charge you, the carer, for care provided directly to the person you look after.
Step 1: ask for a carer’s assessment
Any adult carer in West Sussex is entitled to a carer’s assessment, even if the person they look after has not been assessed. The council aims to complete it within 28 days of you contacting them or Carers Support West Sussex. Details are on the council’s caring for other people page.
Step 2: your relative’s needs assessment
Respite that replaces your care, for example a week in a care home for your relative, is usually treated as a service to them. It is added to their care plan. See our guide to care needs assessments in West Sussex.
Step 3: the financial assessment
Your relative’s income and savings are assessed. If they have more than £23,250 in savings, they are likely to pay the full cost. Below that, they pay a contribution based on their income and any savings between £14,250 and £23,250. For care at home, the value of their home is not counted, and for a temporary care home stay their home is not usually counted either if they intend to return to it. If needs are met with a personal budget, you may be able to take it as direct payments and arrange respite yourself.
How much does respite care cost in Worthing?
If you are paying privately, costs depend on the type of break. These are indicative West Sussex figures for 2026:
- Visiting carer at home: £28–£38 an hour.
- Sleeping night carer: £210–£260 a night. Waking nights cost more.
- Live-in care: £1,400–£1,700+ a week. Short bookings may cost more.
- Care home short stay: care homes set their own weekly respite rates. Ask for the weekly price, what is included, and any minimum stay.
- Day centres: charges vary by provider and may include lunch and transport.
See home care costs in Worthing for more detail.
Help with the cost
- Carer Well-being Fund: Carers Support West Sussex may be able to contribute towards the cost of a break.
- Carefree Breaks: free one- or two-night hotel breaks for carers, with a small admin fee. Carers Support West Sussex lists the scheme and can tell you more.
- Attendance Allowance: £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27, not means-tested, and can help pay for respite.
- Carer’s Allowance: £86.45 a week if you care for 35 hours or more and meet the rules. See our Carer’s Allowance guide.
Our free funding checker shows what help your family may be able to claim.
How do I book respite care in Worthing?
- Decide what kind of break you need. Regular short breaks, a longer holiday, or both.
- Contact Carers Support West Sussex on 0300 028 8888 for local options and possible funding.
- Ask the council for assessments if you may need help paying: 01243 642121.
- Contact providers. For in-home respite, contact CQC-registered agencies. For short stays, contact care homes directly and ask about respite beds.
- Check the provider. Read the latest CQC inspection report. Our guide to choosing a home care agency has questions to ask.
- Prepare a handover. Write down medication, routines, food likes and dislikes, and what settles your relative.
Planning respite ahead
The families who get the most from respite plan it into the year. Book care home stays early. Try a short first break, perhaps an afternoon or one night, so your relative gets used to new faces. Use the same provider each time if you can, so carers get to know your relative.
Also make an emergency plan in case you are suddenly unable to care. TuVida provides free emergency respite in West Sussex for up to 48 hours (72 over a weekend or bank holiday), and Carers Support West Sussex runs a Carer Emergency Contact Card scheme. Our guide to emergency respite care explains both. If you are near breaking point, read what happens if you can’t care for your parent anymore.
Find care near you
Tell us your postcode and what you need help with. We pass your details to one vetted CQC-registered agency in your area — you are told who they are, and that they pay us a fee, before anything is sent.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I have respite?
There is no fixed allowance. If the council funds respite, the amount depends on your carer’s assessment and your relative’s assessed needs. If you pay privately, you can book as often as providers have space.
Can respite care be arranged at short notice?
In-home respite can sometimes start within days, but care home respite beds in Worthing are often booked well ahead. In a real emergency, TuVida’s free emergency respite service may be able to help for up to 48 hours.
Will respite unsettle someone with dementia?
It can, particularly a stay somewhere new. In-home respite with a consistent carer is often easier. If you use a care home, visit together first, take familiar items, and share a clear life story and routine with staff.
Is respite care free for carers?
The council must not charge you, the carer, for care given to the person you look after. The person receiving the care may be asked to contribute after a financial assessment. Some carers’ breaks and grants from local charities are free or low cost.
Does NHS Continuing Healthcare cover respite?
If your relative is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, respite to meet their assessed needs can form part of the NHS-funded care package. Ask the NHS Surrey and Sussex team managing their care.
The Care Panel is an independent publication. We are not a care provider and are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, because we do not deliver care. Always check a provider’s own CQC registration and inspection report before you commit.
Written and fact-checked by The Care Panel. Last updated September 2026. Sources: West Sussex County Council carers and charging guidance, Carers Support West Sussex, TuVida, Social Care Institute for Excellence guidance on carers’ breaks, West Sussex Connect to Support. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice — figures are indicative and subject to change.