Aged care respite

Supporting both the carer and your ageing family member

Family commitments, work and generally the complexity of life can take a toll when you’re caring for an ageing spouse or parent.

In such moments, respite care is a great solution. It offers a temporary reprieve for you, the caregiver, while ensuring the wellbeing of your loved one.

As you’ll see, it benefits everyone.

Understanding respite in residential aged care

Respite is a short-term solution. It’s designed to give caregivers a well-deserved break and allow them to recharge physically, emotionally, and mentally.

“VMCH gave a lot of moral support, through emails, phone calls and texts. Constant updates on how Beverly was going. And they welcomed us every time we came down to visit. It was just a lovely experience.” Mark, carer.

Those receiving the care also benefit from their time away. They get a break from their usual routine, get to socialise, engage in activities, and receive compassionate care within a nurturing and safe environment.

Your loved will be treated as if they were a permanent resident, with access to the same high level of uninterrupted quality care and support.

The benefits of residential respite care

The foremost benefit of respite is that it enables caregivers to take a breather, prevent burnout and ensure they have time to look after themselves. While it can be difficult to come to terms with, it’s also important to remember that you can’t look after someone if you aren’t looking after yourself.

Furthermore, respite care allows for the care recipient to recover from injury or illness after a hospital stay. Accessing respite at this time provides peace of mind to families, knowing their loved one will receive quality medical care and support while recovering in a fully-accredited aged care residence.

“The transition was easy. The day Kevin came in, he wasn’t in his room very long and three or four people came in. You know, ‘I’m so and so. If there’s anything you need’. And it was just lovely to hear that. Knowing that we were leaving Kevin somewhere that was caring.” Leonie, carer.

There are also many advantages for the person going into respite:

How long can someone stay in respite?

Generally, respite within residential aged care is for a minimum of two weeks, but it can be shorter or longer, depending on your needs.

We’re here to help and we can provide emergency respite care when a situation calls for it too.

How to apply for respite care?

To receive respite care, you need an Aged Care Assessment which is arranged through My Aged Care. You can call them directly or alternatively phone the VMCH team and we can walk you through the process.

Afterwards, it’s time to do some research and visit one or two local aged care residences to see if they’re the right fit. Your GP or hospital social worker can provide advice too.

Check out our locations around Victoria, we have plenty of options that might work for you.

How much does respite care cost?

If you book aged care respite, you don’t need to pay an accommodation deposit (also known as a bond). You only need to pay a daily fee to cover the cost of your care. The maximum fee is set at 85% of the single basic aged pension. If you are eligible for respite care, you can access up to 63 days of subsidised respite care in a financial year.

You may also be able to fund aged care respite services through your Home Care Package (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or through the Department of Social Services.

Need help organising respite?

We have a friendly and experienced team who can walk you through the process.