Frequently Asked Questions – Support for Carers

Carers can be supported through respite, counselling, carer support groups and a variety of other ways. Additional support services can be provided through referral.

Respite care is where an alternative care arrangement is provided with the primary purpose of giving a carer or the person they care for a short-term break from their usual care arrangement.

Many older people in Australia receive care from their spouse/partner, family members or friends. Caring is a challenging and demanding yet rewarding role. Resthaven recognises that carers also need care, and often taking a break from their caring role can assist them  to manage other aspects of their lives, and look after their own health and wellbeing.

Respite care is provided in a number of settings, both in the local community and, for longer respite periods, in residential care, to allow flexibility for carers and the people they care for.

Click to learn more about Respite at Resthaven

Click here to read about the different types of respite

What is respite?

Respite is when the person you care for is cared for by others to enable you to have an important break and refresh.

Why should I use respite?

Benefits of respite:

• Gives carers time to look after themselves and their own needs such as going to work, a social engagement, an appointment or a volunteer commitment. Longer periods of respite for carers can be arranged overnight or for a few days to recover from illness or surgery or other emergency situation.
• Prevents social isolation by providing carers with opportunities to meet with friends or attend a support group.
• Supports the social participation of the person they care for and their ability to pursue activities of interest.
• Helps keep the carers healthy and improve the quality of care they provide. Sustains carers so they can continue their caring role and the person they care for can stay at home longer.
• Provides carers and the people they care for with an experience of different care facilities that may be required in the future.

Respite can be:

• Reliable, flexible and tailored to meet the needs of the carer and the person they care for.
• Incorporated in the early stages of caring and as part of an ongoing plan for support and assistance.
• Planned in advance to reduce the likelihood of emergencies due to carer strain.

Respite is not:

• Just a short break. Instead respite should be incorporated in the early stages of caring and as part of an ongoing plan for support and assistance.
• A sign that the carer is ‘not coping’. Respite helps sustain carers so they can continue their caring role and the person they care for can stay at home longer.
• An indulgence. Respite keeps carers healthy and improves the quality of care they provide.
• An avoidance of responsibility or duty. Respite should be planned in advance to reduce the likelihood of emergencies due to carer strain.

Community respite for carers of older people is available, to provide a break for the carer while providing meaningful activity and companionship for the person they care for. Respite can be provided  in the person’s home, in centre based small groups and in Resthaven’s cottage style overnight respite locations (accommodating between 1-4 people at a time in a suburban house). This overnight accommodation is available for a minimum of one night but also for longer periods (e.g. up to 14 nights).

Short term residential respite is available in Resthaven’s residential care homes for up to 63 days per person per year, often taken in blocks of about two weeks or more.

Visit the Support for Carers page for more information

Call Resthaven on 1300 13 66 33 to find out how you can access respite services.

Anyone can refer themselves to Resthaven community respite services. You or a family member or friend can make your own referral. Of course, your GP or another health professional can also help you with referral. Call Resthaven on 1300 13 66 33.

Access to Australian Government-funded home support or home care services including Resthaven’s community respite services, apart from some services to Australian veterans, is channelled through MyAgedCare. Call Resthaven on 1300 13 66 33 and we’ll help you with a MyAgedCare referral.

Resthaven provides a user-pays, fee-for-service basis through Resthaven’s Lifestyle Choices Plus. Services are provided to the same high quality and exacting Aged Care standards as Resthaven’s accredited government funded services. Call Resthaven on 1300 13 66 33 and talk to us about Lifestyle Choices Plus.

Community respite funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Programme is generally offered through three different referral codes.

• Cottage Respite: This code gives the person you care for respite in an overnight capacity, typically in a suburban home owned/leased by Resthaven.
• Centre Based Respite: This code gives the person you care for respite during the day typically in a community-based venues, where small and meaningful group activities are conducted by skilled staff.
• Flexible Respite: This code gives the person you care for respite during the day or overnight, typically in their own home with a staff member providing support and care services.

For further clarity around the differences of respite, please click below.

Click here to read about the different types of respite