Respite Care

Respite Care is short-term care designed to provide quality support for clients in a safe and engaging environment while their carers take a break. Whether it’s for a day, overnight, or longer, our Respite Care is focused on supporting the daily wellbeing and vitality of our clients, ensuring they feel connected and cared for while their carers take the time to rest and recharge.

The cost of Respite Care is different depending on what type of Government funding support you have and your financial situation. It also depends on the type of respite you want to access. In most cases, Commonwealth Home Support Programme or Support at Home funding will cover at least half of the cost. You may need to pay a client contribution. Ask our team for more specific costs that apply to your situation by calling 1800 852 772.

To use the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or Support at Home funding you will need to undertake an assessment with My Aged Care. At the assessment you will need to request either a ‘Day centre based respite’ or ‘Overnight Cottage respite’, ‘Flexible respite’, or ‘Residential respite’ referral code.

Or alternatively there is the option to pay privately. Our capable staff are able to assist you in finding the right funding avenue for you.

There is no fixed limit on the number of respite days or nights per year through our In-Home Respite or Dementia Cottage Respite services.

However, to keep our respite services accessible to the community we may limit attendance to three days per week in our cottages and 10 hours per week for in-home respite.

Residential respite is limited to 63 days each financial year, but may be extended by 21 days at a time if an aged care assessor approves it.

If you are eligible you can access a range of funding support options to help pay for respite. These include Support at Home and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. You also have the option to pay privately for services.

Day respite in our cottages is available during the day for up to a few days a week.

Overnight respite in our cottages is available for up to two consecutive nights to give family members and carers a longer break.

In-Home respite involves paid carers and clients ‘creating their own adventure’ during each session. Clients are supported to engage in meaningful activities through one-on-one support. Each session is for three to five hours.

Residential respite is usually for a minimum of four weeks and clients can stay for up to 63 days.

Yes it can pay for at least half of the cost. The Commonwealth funded Support at Home program provides a subsidy for eligible clients that can be used for respite care services.

The funding is available to help people stay living in their own home. The eight levels of Support at Home funding each provide a different subsidy amount. The subsidy contributes to the total cost of service and care delivery, and the Government expects you to pay the rest of the cost.

No. However, in the Dementia Cottage Respite a high percentage of clients who attend are living with dementia or cognitive decline.

If you are feeling socially isolated, can no longer drive, need or prefer 1:1 support, and live too far from our cottages then in-home respite might be a great option for you.

Residential respite also does not require a diagnosis of dementia.

In a group environment, our trained staff will find creative, fun and meaningful ways to keep clients engaged in physically, mentally and socially stimulating activities.

To name just a few; a daily resistance and weight-bearing exercise program facilitated by an exercise professional, bus trips in the broader community, brain training activities, music therapy and opportunities to participate in daily living skill activities such as cooking and gardening.

Each visit includes nutritious meals cooked onsite and assistance with personal care tasks if required. Transport to and from the cottages may be available.

In-Home Respite is delivered in clients’ homes and local communities by a support worker who will collaborate with the client to plan activities and outings that help them to engage in their community, discover new hobbies, practise daily living tasks and contribute to overall health and well-being. The support worker may also drive the client around to help them access their community.

Our Dementia Cottage Respite uses a health and well-being focused model of care. It is driven by the idea that we “do with our clients, rather doing for clients”. This gives our clients the best chance of maintaining their independence, self-esteem and sense of purpose.

During each session, clients engage in physically, socially and mentally stimulating activities. These include day-to-day activities, such as cooking and gardening, learning new skills, and social outings. The activities support people to live at home for as long as possible. 

Residential Respite includes all the services and activities that permanent residential care residents access. This includes 24/7 care supported by our dedicated team, including on-site Registered Nurses, allied health services, facilitated access to GP visits and allied health services tailored to your care plan, laundry, medication support, chef cooked meals, exercise support, lifestyle activities and outings.

Respite provides family caregivers with a chance to spend some time looking after their own wellbeing, while knowing their loved one is not just being cared for but also being supported to engage in meaningful activities and enjoy their own time in respite. The short break for both carers and their loved ones enables them to rest and recharge, so they can live at home for longer and with a better quality of life.

Respite services provide care and support for people who live in the community, so that their family carers can take some time to rest and recharge. Respite services enable carers to continue caring to the best of their ability and Southern Cross Care’s respite services also enable clients to boost their own wellbeing through meaningful activities, exercise and social interaction.