In this section we provide links to organisations with information that may be helpful if you are researching or planning a break. (Please note that Shared Care Scotland is not responsible for the content of these sites.) Please also refer to our Options Review publication for further advice.
Care Commission
The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) was established in April 2002 as the new, independent regulator set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to regulate care services in Scotland.
The Care Commission regulates over 15,000 care services, used by 320,000 people in Scotland. 39.7% of services are provided by childminders, 29.2% are day care of children services and 11.2% are residential care homes. This includes the regulation of short break and respite services.
National Care Standards: Short Break and Respite Services
www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/69582/0017383.pdf
In order to raise the level of care in Scotland and ensure that service users receive the same quality of care no matter where they live, Scottish Ministers have developed national care standards for a wide range of care services including short break and respite services.
The standards have been created from the service user's point of view and are designed to explain what can be expected from care services. They also help service users to raise concerns or make a complaint.
The standards are based on the following six principles -
Access @ Last
http://www.accessatlast.com/about_us.php
Access @ Last provides an 'one stop shop' for people searching for accommodation with at least 1 room with a level access shower. The aim of the site is to support people wanting to travel anywhere in the world, no matter what physical ability they may have. The detailed information and customer reviews displayed assist with taking informed decisions before making a travelling commitment.
Can Be Done
Can be Done offers a wide range of holidays for all, but have specialised in original and pioneering wheelchair accessible holidays to a widening choice of destinations throughout the world. All the accommodation offered by the company has en-suite bathrooms with adaptations such as grab rails or wheel in showers.
Carry My Luggage
This service operates world wide and offers a door to door luggage collection and delivery service. This service is particularly useful for elderly people or people with a disability who have difficulty transporting luggage on trains or planes. The service includes real time tracking of luggage providing customers with information regarding the shipment status, from collection to delivery.
Childrens Hospice Association Scotland
Rachel House, Scotland's first children's hospice opened in 1996, provides:
Direct Gov
Government website with useful information and advice on traveling abroad including a section for disabled people.
Holiday Care
Information about access for disabled people for accommodation and tourist attractions in the UK.
Holidays for All
Holidays for All is a group of the UK's disability organisations working together to promote quality, accessible holiday breaks providing improved choice and flexibility for holiday makers.
This website is to help people to plan a holiday or weekend break in any one of the HFA accessible UK hotels and holiday centres.
The Scottish Borders Short Breaks and Respite Care Directory
This service aims to provide users with up-to-date information about the range of short breaks and respite care options available within the Scottish Borders area.
Short Breaks and Respite Care provide short – term care services for people with disabilities or long term illness and their carers. This web site currently provides information for adults and their carers only.
The Insurance Surgery
www.the-insurance-surgery.co.uk
The Insurance Surgery is one of the UK's leading specialists in finding life insurance, travel insurance, impaired life annuities and other insurance products for clients with pre existing medical conditions.
They can guide you towards life insurance and travel insurance companies who are sympathetic to your pre existing medical condition.
A list of conditions covered is on the website or Free 24hr Quoteline: 0800 8496444
Paths for All
The Paths for All Partnership was set up to facilitate the development of paths for recreation, health and well-being, strengthening communities, sustainable transport and economic development. The 'Paths for Health' section of the website provides a search facility to find information about local path networks suitable for different abilities and contact details for local walking groups.
RADAR
A guide to holidays in Britain and Ireland for people with disablities is produced annually by RADAR. The guide aims to help people with as wide a range of disabilities as possible and includes details such as the size of entrance doors and lifts, ground floor bedrooms and where there are specially designed bathrooms. The guide is available via the RADAr website or by phoning 0207 250 3222.
Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Association
This site contains information about the illness, SMNDA's care services, current research and how you can become a supporter of the association. You can download information leaflets (InfoFACTS) on their information and publications page.
Click here for their fact sheet on holidays and travel information
Visit Scotland
www.visitscotland.com/accommodation/accessiblescotland
The official site of Scotland's national tourist board. This site contains a searchable database of accessible holiday/short break accomodation. The site uses a 3 rating category of accessibility:
Category 1: wheelchair access without assistance
Category 2: wheelchair access with assistance
Category 3: access for those with mobility impairment
Vitalise
Vitalise (formerly Winged Fellowship Trust) is a national charity providing essential breaks for disabled people and carers. Vitalise also runs holidays for visually impaired people. We aim to offer choice through our enabling environment and inspirational opportunities for volunteers.
Public Autism Resource and Information Service (PARIS)
This service is provided by the National Autistic Society and provides a comprehensive UK wide directory of services for people with autism, including respite and short break services.
TLC Scotland
The TLC Short Breaks Bureau is based in Alloa and provides a travel agency type service arranging tailor made holiday breaks in a range of settings for carers and/or cared for people in all care groups.
Tourism for All
Tourism for All UK is a national registered charity which provides:-
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