FND respite care gives the family carer of someone with functional neurological disorder a proper break, without the person having to leave home. It can be a regular long sit, a run of overnight cover, or a week or two of live-in care while the carer rests or goes away. In Hertfordshire, the council also funds up to 12 hours of free short breaks for unpaid carers. This guide explains the options and how to make a break work for someone with FND.
Caring for someone with FND is tiring in a particular way. The symptoms change from day to day, seizures may come without warning, and the carer is rarely fully off duty. Many partners and parents tell us they cannot remember the last time they left the house without their phone in their hand.
Starling Homecare is an independent, family-run provider regulated by the Care Quality Commission. We provide visiting, overnight and live-in care for people with FND across Hertfordshire, including short-term respite. Council details below come from Hertfordshire County Council's carers pages, checked on 28 September 2026.
Why FND respite care needs a little more planning
With many conditions, a stand-in carer can learn the routine in an afternoon. FND is different, because the routine changes with the day. So the person covering needs to know what a good day and a difficult day look like, and what the seizure plan is. They also need to understand the rehabilitation principle: the person does as much as they can, and help fills the gap.
That is also why the same carer, or a small team, matters. A familiar face tends to make breaks calmer for everyone, and it means the carer does not have to explain everything from the beginning each time.
The three shapes of FND respite care
Regular sits. A carer comes for a long block, such as a half day each week, so the family carer can have time that is truly their own. Our guide to a sitting service in Hertfordshire explains how sits work and how to make them go smoothly.
Overnight cover. Where seizures or symptoms disturb the nights, a run of sleeping or waking nights lets the carer catch up on sleep. For many FND carers, sleep is the thing they are shortest of.
Live-in respite. For a holiday, a family event or the carer's own operation, a live-in carer can move in for a week or two. The person stays in their own home and keeps their routine. Our guide to live-in care for FND covers the longer-term version.
Help from Hertfordshire County Council
The council funds up to 12 hours of support to give an unpaid carer of an adult a break, usually as two to three hour breaks at home or in the community. Crossroads Caring for Life delivers them in North Herts and Stevenage, and Care By Us in the rest of the county.
For regular, longer breaks, the council's route is a free carer's assessment. If a need is identified, it may arrange ongoing breaks or offer direct payments so the family can arrange their own. The council says these services are free for carers and do not need a financial assessment.
Getting ready for a break
A written handover makes the first break far easier. It is worth including:
- what the person's symptoms look like on good and difficult days;
- the seizure plan agreed with their clinical team, including when to call for help;
- the exercises or pacing the therapists have set;
- daily routine, medicines and meals;
- who to contact in the family, and the GP's details.
In our experience, a short overlap visit before the first proper break helps enormously. The carer is still at home, the new carer learns the routine, and the person with FND meets them on a calm day. Our guide to supporting someone with FND at home covers the day-to-day approach, and what to do during a functional seizure is worth sharing with anyone who covers.
Where we provide FND respite care
We cover St Albans, Harpenden, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, Potters Bar, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Hitchin, Hertford, and Radlett and Shenley, each with its own local team. The FND care at home page describes the service, and our guide to respite care in Hertfordshire covers breaks more widely.
Common questions about FND respite care
Can someone with FND have respite care at home?
Yes. Respite can be regular long sits, overnight cover or a short period of live-in care, so the person stays at home while the family carer has a break.
Is there free respite for FND carers in Hertfordshire?
Hertfordshire County Council funds up to 12 hours of free short breaks for unpaid carers of adults. For longer, regular breaks, ask the council for a free carer's assessment.
What should a respite carer know about FND?
They should know what the person's good and difficult days look like, the seizure plan and when to call for help, and the rehabilitation approach, so they help without taking over.
Carers of people with FND give a great deal, often quietly and for a long time, and a regular break is part of doing it well. If you would like to talk about FND respite care in Hertfordshire, our St Albans office is on 01727 324 127. Hertfordshire County Council's page on getting a break from caring has the links for the free short breaks.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.