Replacement Care – Taking Time for Yourself

If you're an carer in Bristol or South Gloucestershire, arranging in-home care—where a care worker visits to provide support—often begins with a Carer’s Assessment.

At Carers Support, we carry out Carer’s Assessments on behalf of the local councils, helping identify your needs and explore what support might be available to you. This could include funding for respite or replacement care, such as in-home support, and access to direct payments to arrange care yourself. Whether the care is short-term or long-term, a Carer’s Assessment is the key first step.

For more information on funding options, visit the Carers Trust page on paying for respite care.

To learn more about Carer’s Assessments and how to request one locally, see our page 

Bristol – Bristol Community Links Day Centres

Bristol Community Links (BCL) offers day centres where the person you care for can enjoy activities, socialising, and support in a safe, dementia-friendly environment. This gives you time to rest, work, or focus on other responsibilities. Centres include sensory rooms, cafés, and skills kitchens, and provide advice for carers too.

Find out more about BCL Day Centres

South Gloucestershire – Cambrian Green Dementia Day Care

Cambrian Green in Yate offers specialist day care for people living with dementia, with activities like music, crafts, cooking, and outings. It provides a safe, stimulating space while giving carers a much-needed break. An assessment is required to access the service.

Learn more about Cambrian Green Day Care

Care Homes (Carers Trust)
This Carers Trust page provides practical information for carers supporting someone who is moving into a care home, whether for a short-term stay or a permanent move.

It explains how carers can remain involved in care decisions, where to find emotional and peer support, and how to access advice from organisations like the Relatives and Residents Association.

The page also covers how to choose a suitable care home, understand funding options—including local authority and NHS support—and find further guidance on legal and financial matters.

Informal care is when trusted friends, neighbours, or family members step in to help with caring responsibilities. It can be a flexible and reassuring option, whether you're looking for short-term support to take a break or help with regular tasks.

If you're considering informal care, we recommend having open conversations with those around you about what kind of help you need and when.

You can also discuss informal care as part of a Carer’s Assessment, which we carry out on behalf of Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council. The assessment helps identify your needs and can explore how informal care might work alongside other options, such as funded replacement care or direct payments.

For more information, visit our Carer’s Assessments page.

Shared Lives offers adults with additional needs the chance to live in the home of a trained carer, sharing everyday life in a safe, supportive, and family-style setting. It’s a more personal alternative to traditional care, helping people build independence and confidence while living in a household.

In Bristol, the scheme is run by Bristol City Council and supports adults over 18 with long-term or short-break arrangements.

Find out more about Bristol Shared Lives

In South Gloucestershire, the scheme is delivered by Ategi, offering flexible support including day care, respite, and ongoing placements.

Find out more about South Glos Shared Lives

Shared Lives can support people with:

• Learning disabilities
• Autism
• Mental health needs
• Physical or sensory impairments

If you think this might be right for someone you care for, speak to their social worker or contact the relevant local authority to explore next steps.

South Gloucestershire

Here at Carers Support, we offer sitting services to help you take a short break while the person you care for is supported at home. A trained volunteer or care worker can stay with them for a couple of hours—whether you need time to rest, meet a friend, or run errands.

Find out more about our Carers Breaks Service

Bristol

In Bristol, sitting services can be arranged by exploring the options listed on the Well Aware directory or our Carers Break Directory. 

The Carers Trust page on Paid Help at Home provides practical guidance for carers who are considering hiring a personal assistant (PA) to support the person they care for. It explains that a PA can help with everyday tasks such as personal care, cooking, medication, and companionship—either at home or out in the community. For carers, this can mean more flexibility, time to rest, or the ability to continue working or socialising.

The page also outlines what’s involved in employing a PA, including responsibilities like contracts, pay, training, and DBS checks. Importantly, it encourages carers to contact their local council for a carer’s assessment, which can help determine what support is needed and whether funding is available to help cover costs.

South Gloucestershire Council offers guidance on using assistive technology—like sensors, alarms, and remote monitoring—to help keep the person you care for safe at home. This can give you peace of mind and allow you to take a break without needing residential care.

Although the page is hosted by South Gloucestershire Council, the information is useful for carers living in Bristol too.

Explore assistive technology for carers