Help for Family Carers: Flexible Breaks and Support at Home

Today Care
Jun 13
4 min read

Support for family carers in South Gloucestershire and beyond

wife caring for her husband in a wheelchair.

I’ve met so many people through my work in care. Strong, kind, determined people who don’t call themselves carers.

They say, “I’m just looking after my mum,” or “It’s what any daughter would do.”

But what they’re doing is work. Real, hard, emotional work. And most of the time, it’s completely unpaid and unseen.

It often happens quietly, behind closed doors, driven by love and duty, not recognition.

Caring Without a Title

Many family members don’t realise they’ve stepped into the role of a carer.

It starts with a small favour: picking up a prescription, helping with the shopping, checking in more often. And before long, it becomes a full-time responsibility.

Washing. Cooking. Lifting. Reassuring. Waiting by hospital beds. Managing appointments. Chasing referrals. And still juggling children, work, bills, and your own well-being.

You might never use the word “carer”. But if you’re regularly supporting someone else’s health, safety, or well-being, you are one.

And that matters.

The Invisible Labour of Love

Looking after someone you love is deeply human. It’s also physically demanding, emotionally intense, and mentally exhausting.

It’s a lot like motherhood.

Mothers do so much: feeding, cleaning, planning, comforting, and yet it’s rarely seen as work.

But imagine one day without mothers. Without that invisible labour.

The world would crumble.

It’s the same with unpaid carers. You’re holding everything together. Quietly. Constantly.

Until you can’t.

Until exhaustion kicks in. Until burnout begins. Until the cracks start to show.

You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup

We all know this phrase. But so many carers ignore it, because taking time for yourself feels impossible.

The truth is, taking a break doesn’t mean giving up.

It means preserving your health and energy so you can keep caring.

Professionals take days off. Nurses rotate shifts. Doctors don’t work 24/7.

So why should a daughter caring for her dad around the clock feel guilty for needing an hour to herself?

Time to rest is not selfish. It’s necessary.

What Does “Taking a Break” Really Mean?

In care terms, it’s called respite. But we know that word can sound clinical or unfamiliar.

At Today Care, we simply call it support. Or helping you have a break.

Because that’s what it really is:

Someone kind stepping in so you can step out
Peace of mind while you run errands, rest, or just have time to breathe
Trusted, professional care for your loved one without pressure or judgment.

You can arrange it as a one-off or book flexible hours every month, depending on your needs.

Sometimes it’s just an hour or two. Sometimes, it’s a full day or a weekend.

Whatever you need,

it’s okay to ask.

The Emotional Cost of Never Stopping

When you’re “the strong one” in the family, you’re expected to always cope.

But even strong people break down. Especially when no one checks in on them.

That feeling of snapping at small things. Forgetting what day it is. Crying in secret. Feeling completely alone even though you're surrounded by people.

That’s not weakness. It’s burnout.

Your body and mind are asking you to rest.

Help fo Family Carers: What We Offer and Why It’s Different

At Today Care, we don’t talk about care in clinical terms. We talk about people. And we believe that supporting unpaid carers is just as important as supporting the person being cared for.

That’s why we created a flexible, personal way to offer help for family carers to get time off when and how they need it.

We offer pre-booked support hours that you can use however it suits you:

A few quiet hours each week
Time to go to work or appointments
A longer block of care while you rest or take a break
Even 1- 2 hours of care if something comes up last minute, whether it’s a doctor’s appointment, a birthday party, or even just a chance to get your nails done and feel like yourself again

You don’t need to commit to rigid schedules. You don’t need to explain yourself. We simply step in, gently and reliably, with people you trust.

And now, we’re launching a membership programme for break-time care designed to make your support more affordable and always available.

With the membership, you can:

Access care whenever you need it
Save up your support hours over weeks or months
Use those hours for a day off, a weekend away, or even a family holiday

Your hours are stored in your account, ready when you are. And when you need us, all it takes is a phone call, no new assessments, no long wait times. Just support, made simple.

We’ve had carers say that the first time they sat down with a cup of tea and didn’t have to listen out for a fall, a shout, or a panic, they cried with relief.

That’s what we want to offer.

Not just care. Peace. Space. Breath.