What is Respite Care?
Aged respite care, commonly known as short-term care, is a form of support for an older person and their primary carer. Carers need a break too. Sometimes your carer may need to take a holiday or focus on everyday personal tasks they need to fulfill. Whether you receive care from a loved one or someone who acts as your primary carer, this time away is necessary.
Aged respite care is an alternative form of care in which a temporary carer may come to your home and help you so that you can still freely go about your daily activities.
Depending on your needs, you might only want respite care for a few hours, a day or two or even a few weeks. Whichever you choose, access to these specific services is dependent on your eligibility. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may sometimes arise, and your carer may be temporarily unavailable. Whatever the reason, our goal is that you receive the support you deserve as needed.
At CBCS, residential respite care is available for you and your carer. You don’t have to do this alone;
CBCS has various respite options to support you.
The respite services in our residential aged care facilities at CBCS encompass the full spectrum of care and services. These include personal, nursing, medication management, lifestyles, and essential services such as catering, cleaning, and laundry. These respite services are available to all eligible aged persons assessed and approved by ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team).
At CBCS, all our residential aged care facilities have respite care services. The availability and extension of stay depend on bed availability and timing. Booking and respite fees are chargeable before or upon respite care admission. Anyone using these services should contact each facility directly to receive an application form, conditions and further details.
The Benefits of Aged Respite Care
The Benefits of Residential Respite Care to the person entering care
Social Interaction with Peers
Many of our aging family members get little time to socialise with people their own age, especially if they are being cared for by family members. Residential Respite Care offers the opportunity for those we care for to build friendships with others who may be in a similar situation to themselves. This can build strong ties and result in an easier transition to aged care if that becomes necessary.
In-House Experience
Taking the final step to Aged Care can sometimes have a fair amount of apprehension attached to it. Working with an Aged Care facility such as CBCS around residential respite care means that you are giving the person in your care the experience of Aged Care without the fear that you are leaving them there permanently. They gain experience in aged care and can build relationships with the staff allowing them to have confidence in their future.
Full Service
Those who have access to residential respite care receive all the same benefits as permanent residents. They have their own room, all meals, personal care, laundry and access to social activities. All of this means that the person in your care will have a great time even though you are absent for a short period.
The Benefits of Aged Respite Care to the Carer
Recharge
Caring for another person is a demanding job that can affect your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Having time away from the demands of caring allows you to recharge and come back refreshed. A tired and frustrated caretaker isn’t helpful to anyone, including themselves, so it’s essential to make use of respite care services occasionally.
Holidays
All carers must remember that they have a life outside their caring role. Understandably, many carers feel conflicted about taking time out for themselves, especially when looking after a beloved family member. Using a respite care facility temporarily allows the carer to go on holiday and find time to do the things they like. Doing things like this is particularly vital if there are children involved.
A life outside
No matter how close the bond between the carer and the one being cared for, respite care is essential so that the carer can attend to their life outside of their caring role. They may have necessary errands to complete, family matters to attend to, or home duties that need to be taken care of.
Types of Respite Care
Respite care is there to support you and your loved ones. At CBCS we only offer residential respite care but there may be other options available to you that you may want to consider.
In-Home Respite
In-home respite care is an alternative carer coming to your home to help with daily tasks. The in-home carer can assist for a few hours or perhaps stay overnight. This way, your usual carer or family member can take time to fulfil other duties – or to have some recreation time.
Overnight Respite
Overnight respite can be offered in a respite cottage, a separate building on the property or in a host family’s home. Stays may be for just one night, or they can be for a weekend. The respite cottage provides a safe and comfortable place for you to stay while your carer takes a break.
Community Access Respite
This is a flexible service that offers personalised care in both in-home and social settings. Carers can assist you with shopping or attending medical appointments, and they can organise social and recreational outings.
Centre-based Day Respite
This service offers you an opportunity to travel to a specialised centre where individual or group activities, or perhaps group outings, are available. These centres provide an excellent opportunity to socialise with others and to engage in new activities.
Aged Respite Care FAQs
Respite care is a type of support for both an elderly individual and their primary caregiver. It can provide a temporary break for the carer, which can be vital to allow them to focus on everyday personal tasks or take a leisure break. Respite care can also be an alternative form of care, in which a temporary carer comes to the older person’s home and helps them to continue with their daily activities. Depending on the older person’s needs, respite care can be for just a few hours, a day or two, or even a few weeks.
Carers are entitled to 63 days of respite care per financial year, but this is often dependent on the remaining respite allowance and is assessed by an aged care assessment team (ACAT) member. The amount of respite care a carer is entitled to may also be increased according to their level of need, as assessed by an ACAT member.
Most aged respite care packages are tailored to suit your needs and can vary in cost, but at all times, the most critical aspect of the respite is the care provided to you or your loved one. Medicare also offers a respite care allowance that can cover a portion of the respite care amount.
Contact us for more information regarding the cost of respite care.
Palliative care provides a complete approach to care addressing individual needs – including physical and psychological needs – including home visits and overnight stays.
Respite care is an important service for families who are caring for a loved one. If you are in need of respite care or would like more information, please contact us today. We understand how important it is to find the right care for your loved one. We would be happy to help you through this process. Our experience and resources can help you find the perfect care solution for your family member or loved one.
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