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Respite & Short Stay Care in Scotland

Respite care in Scotland

Respite and
short stay care.

Flexible, temporary care with personalised support in a welcoming Meallmore home.

Find a home

Flexible, temporary care with personalised support in a welcoming Meallmore home.

A temporary stay with the support and welcome of a Meallmore home. Respite and short-stay care can support someone following illness, give a family carer time to rest, or offer an opportunity to experience life in a care home. Every stay begins with an individual assessment, helping us understand the person’s needs, routines and preferences and confirm that the chosen home can provide the right support.

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HOMES OFFERING respite and short-stay care

Search by postcode or town, or share your location - we'll show the closest Meallmore homes offering respite and short-stay care.

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At a Meallmore home

Respite care,
the Meallmore way.

01

Personal care from the first day

Every stay is shaped around the person’s assessed needs, routines, preferences and the support that helps them feel comfortable.

02

Support following illness

A temporary stay can provide everyday support following illness or a hospital stay, subject to assessment and the home’s available services.

03

Time for family carers

Respite care can give family carers time to rest, travel or manage other responsibilities, knowing support is in place.

04

A chance to experience the home

A short stay can help someone meet the team, explore the surroundings and experience everyday life before considering longer-term care.

What is respite care?

Respite care is a short, temporary stay in a care home, usually lasting from a few days to several weeks. It provides personal or nursing support after illness or a hospital stay, gives a family carer a planned break, or lets someone try a home before deciding on a permanent move.

Typical length
A few days to several weeks, agreed before the stay begins
Support included
Personal care, meals, medication support and, in selected homes, 24-hour nursing care
Common reasons
Recovery after hospital, a carer break, or a trial stay before longer-term care
How to arrange
An individual assessment confirms the chosen Meallmore home can meet the person's needs

Respite care at Meallmore

Respite care is a short-term stay that provides professional support in a care home for someone who cannot manage at home for a period of time.

At Meallmore, respite is available at selected homes across Scotland and can be planned in advance or arranged quickly when needed. Every stay includes 24-hour support, freshly prepared meals, help with medication and full access to the home's facilities and social life, with the same standard of care our permanent residents receive.

A Meallmore resident from our Auchtercrag House Care Home in Ellon, enjoying breakfast and a cup of tea

Four reasons families book a short stay

Recovery after hospital

Support with mobility, medication, nutrition and daily routines after a hospital stay, illness or injury.

A break for a family carer

Time to rest, travel or manage other commitments, knowing round-the-clock care is in place.

A trial stay before a permanent move

A chance to meet the team and experience life in the home before deciding on long-term care.

Emergency and unplanned cover

Fast admissions where a room and an assessment allow, for unexpected changes at home.

What happens next

Every stay begins with an individual assessment so we can confirm the chosen home can meet the person's needs safely, agree the length of the stay and explain the fees. Contacting the home directly is the quickest way to check current availability.

For a fuller explanation of how respite works in Scotland, including what a short stay costs, what the local authority may contribute and how to arrange one, read our guide to respite and short-stay care in Scotland.

Where we provide this care

Respite and short-stay care,
across Scotland.

Respite and short-stay care is offered across our homes, subject to availability. Choose an area to see the homes and how short stays are arranged locally.

Respite and short-stay care in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

All homes in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

Short stays are offered across the north east, subject to a room being available, from Aberdeen out to Ellon, Inverurie, Cruden Bay, Crimond and Fraserburgh. Families use them for a planned break, a recovery period after illness, or a trial of care before a longer-term decision. Where a stay follows a hospital admission, we work with NHS Grampian discharge teams and the relevant council.

Respite and short-stay care in Central Scotland

All homes in Central Scotland

Respite and short-stay care is available at Airthrey, Parklands and Ivybank House, giving carers in Falkirk, Stirling, Alloa and the surrounding towns a planned break. Guests receive the same care, meals and activity as permanent residents. Some short stays are funded through the local council's carer support; our team can explain what applies.

Respite and short-stay care in Edinburgh & Lothians

All homes in Edinburgh & Lothians

Forthland Lodge can offer respite and short-stay care in Edinburgh when a room is available, whether for a planned break or a period of recovery. A short stay is also a practical way to see whether a home feels right before committing. Stays following a hospital admission are arranged with NHS Lothian and City of Edinburgh social work.

Respite and short-stay care in Fife

All homes in Fife

Leven Beach offers respite and short-stay care on the Fife coast, subject to availability. It suits carers who need a planned break and people recovering after a spell in hospital. Fife Health and Social Care Partnership can advise on carer support funding for short stays.

Respite and short-stay care in Glasgow & West of Scotland

All homes in Glasgow & West of Scotland

Respite is available at Kelvinside Manor, Antonine House, Mearns House, Eaglesham House, Belleaire, Kincaid House and Greenan Manor, so families across Glasgow, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Ayrshire have options close to home. Guests join everything the home offers, from meals to activity. Availability changes week to week, so it is worth asking early for a planned break.

Respite and short-stay care in Highlands

All homes in Highlands

Culduthel, Daviot, St Olaf and Redwoods offer respite and short-stay care across Inverness, Nairn and Easter Ross. In a rural region, a short stay can also bridge the gap while home care is arranged or a family carer is away. Highland Council and NHS Highland can advise on carer support for planned breaks.

Respite and short-stay care in Tayside

All homes in Tayside

Sutherland House provides respite and short-stay care for families in Broughty Ferry, Dundee and along the Angus coast, subject to availability. Short stays are often used for recovery after a hospital admission or to give a family carer a planned rest. Arrangements are made with Dundee City or Angus social work where funding is involved.

Not ready to enquire?

Read the full respite care guide

Our Scotland-specific guide explains what respite care means, the four reasons families usually book a short stay, how long stays run, what one costs and what the council may contribute, and how to arrange it. Free to read, no obligation.

Open the respite guide

Common questions

Questions
worth asking.

Considering respite or short-stay care can bring a lot of questions. Here are some of the things families ask us most often.

The length of a respite stay depends on the person’s needs, the purpose of the stay and availability within the chosen home.

Some stays may last a few days, while others continue for several weeks. Our team will discuss the options and agree the proposed arrangements before the stay begins.

The cost of respite care varies depending on the chosen Meallmore home, the length of the stay, accommodation and the person’s assessed care needs.

Some respite support may be funded by a local authority, particularly where it forms part of an agreed care or carer-support plan. Privately funded stays are also available. Our team can explain the relevant home’s fees and what is included.

Yes, selected Meallmore homes provide respite stays alongside nursing care.

Before accepting a stay, the home will assess the person’s health and support needs to make sure it has the appropriate registration, colleagues and services to care for them safely.

Respite care services at Meallmore include short-stay residential care, respite with nursing support, dementia respite in homes registered to provide it, and post-hospital or convalescent stays.

The services available differ between homes, so the right option is confirmed through an individual assessment before a stay is agreed.

Adult respite care is a temporary stay for an adult aged 18 or over who needs support because of a disability, neurological condition, acquired brain injury, learning disability or complex health need.

Selected Meallmore homes provide specialist adult respite where an assessment confirms the team can meet the person's needs safely.

Respite at home means a carer visits or stays in the person's own house so their usual carer can take a break. Meallmore does not provide care in people's own homes.

A respite stay in a care home provides the same break with 24-hour support, meals, accommodation and, in selected homes, registered nursing care on site.

Short-notice respite is sometimes possible, but it depends on room availability and how quickly the assessment can be completed.

Contacting the home directly is the fastest way to check current availability and agree the arrangements for the stay.

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