Do you need a break from caring for someone who is ageing?
We can provide you with information and assistance for booking a short-stay at an aged care home so you can have a break or ‘respite’ from your caring responsibilities.
Planned Stays
- We can arrange short stay respite bookings at up to 14 aged care homes (residential aged care facilities) and put you in touch with other facilities.
- All bookings are subject to the availability and requirements of the aged care home. In other words, while we can request a booking on your behalf, it is up to the aged care home to accept or reject your booking.
- The person who will be receiving care must have an ACAT assessment and be approved for residential respite to be eligible for a short stay in an aged care home. You need to contact myagedcare to arrange an ACAT assessment.
- As spaces in aged care homes book very quickly, particularly for high-care needs, we need at least two months’ notice for a booking; the longer the better if you want to get into a particular home.
- Each aged care home has their own intake process and after we have confirmed the booking, you will need to contact the facility and arrange a pre-admission interview. The final acceptance of the booking is subject to approval from the aged care home.
- The minimum stay is 1-2 weeks, depending on the aged care home (each home has slightly different requirements).
- There is a basic daily fee payable of $50.66* per day. This fee covers living costs such as meals, cleaning and laundry.
- Everyone staying in an aged care home is asked to pay this fee. *Rates increase in March and September each year.
If, following a Centrelink assessment, you still have difficulty accessing respite care, contact us on 1800 052 222 for further assistance.
Unplanned Stays: Urgent/Emergency Respite
We can assist you to arrange alternative care for urgent/emergency situations. Given that most aged care homes need at least two months notice, we will find alternative temporary accommodation, such as motel accommodation with a support worker.
Unplanned Stays: Hospital Discharge – Short Stay Transition Care
Transitional care is a community based program for older adults, providing up to 12 weeks support and therapy at the end of a hospital stay. It is the responsibility of the State/Territory Government Health Service; however, where we can find a suitable vacancy at an aged care home, and the aged care home is willing to accept the placement, we may be able to assist with arranging a short term stay to enable hospital discharge.
- The person who will be receiving care must have an ACAT assessment and be approved for residential respite to be eligible for a short stay in an aged care home. Contact myagedcare to arrange this assessment.
- Hospital discharge to transitional respite care needs careful planning. We generally need a minimum 5 business days’ notice to arrange a booking, but longer notice period is preferred.
- The minimum stay is 1-2 weeks, depending on the requirements of the aged care home.
- There is a basic daily fee payable of $50.66* per day. This fee covers living costs such as meals, cleaning and laundry.
- Everyone staying in an aged care home is asked to pay this fee. *Rates increase in March and September each year.
If, following a Centrelink assessment, you still have difficulty accessing respite care, contact us on 1800 052 222 for further assistance.
Financial Assistance for Short Stays in Aged Care Homes (in the case of hardship)
- For a short stay in an aged care home, there is a basic daily fee payable of $50.66* per day. This fee covers living costs such as meals, cleaning and laundry. Everyone staying in an aged care home is asked to pay this fee. *Rates increase in March and September each year.
If, following a Centrelink assessment, you still have difficulty accessing respite care, contact us on 1800 052 222 for further assistance.
Related Pages
Assisting Carers to Have a Break
Flexible Respite
Deakin Cottage Dementia and Frail Aged Respite
Emergency Respite
