Home-based respite care is available to support you and help your regular carer. If you receive care from a friend or family member, respite care means that – for a short period of time – somebody else takes on the caring duties.
This allows your regular carer to take a break; whether that be just for a few hours, more regularly so they can work, or even to allow them to take a holiday. Broome sounds nice.
You’ll continue to receive high-quality care and support, and your carer can recharge their batteries and return with renewed energy.
Emergency respite care is available from the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre. Call 1800 052 222, or 1800 059 059 on evenings and weekends.
Carers in your home
Respite carers can come to you, meaning you remain in the comfort of your own place.
Subsidised respite care is available through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, with carers coming for a few hours or even overnight.
Care away from home
You can also get respite care in a variety of other settings:
- Respite centres: Offering day respite, including outings, in a social environment
- Home respite: For overnight or weekend care in a cottage or with a host family
- Residential respite: Short-term stays in an aged care home are a great option if your regular carer has to be away for a longer period of time, or are ill themselves. You may need to pay additional fees for this care.
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for more details.
You need to have an Aged Care Assessment to qualify for subsidised respite care. If you are eligible, you can receive up to 63 days of respite care per year, depending on your circumstances, with an opportunity to extend. It’s a great deal for you and your carer, so make the most of it if you can.
