Hello - I'm new to the forum and 5 months into caring for my elderly mother with dementia. Hardest job I've ever done. I have been run down since she first came to live with us and just don't pick up. It's the emotional rather than the physical stuff that wears me down. I have just recovered from a chest infection and somehow muddled through with caring for mum. The main problem I have is that none of the local care homes in my area offer respite. All they can do is promise they'll call me if a room becomes free. What to do in an emergency? I realise that social services would organise an emergency placement but that would fill my mum with great anxiety and could even finish her off. It's taken a lot of persuasion to get her into day care three times a week as she just wants to be with me. Very few homes have a specific respite room and if they do they want you to book it for a fortnight. The homes that have that arrangement don't have day care so I couldn't take mum weekly before we try a night. Just wondered how others manage this situation.