What is Residential Respite Care?

There are many challenges that accompany the provision of assistance and treatment to people living with disabilities, both for the patients themselves and those who care for them. Some of these challenges can be managed to minimise their impacts through effective planning. Support workers have an exceptional role in providing care to patients, but they have needs which also need to be accounted for through proper planning.

Residential respite care is housing or accommodation for a brief period away from your usual residence if your usual support system is not available. It can also be used to overcome new challenges or act as a bridge into different types of support.

People living with disabilities may need a significant amount of support from family members, loved ones, or professional support workers. Sometimes, that support may not be enough , there may be a change in circumstances, or the people providing support may need a break from the routine. This is when respite care is provided.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care aims to provide relief for both the caregiver and the person living with disabilities. It is short-term relief for caregivers, giving them a break from their support work, and for patients, it can be an opportunity to learn new skills or transition to new types of support. 

Why is Respite Care Important?

Respite care provides temporary relief for a primary caregiver or support worker, enabling them to take a much-needed break from the demands of care or support for a sick, aging, or disabled family member. Providing care for a loved one can be a fulfilling and purposeful experience, but it can also be very easy to forget to take care of yourself. 

Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout occurs when someone doesn’t spend enough time focusing on themselves and their own needs. Instead, focusing their energy on support responsibilities and being a caregiver. This can cause various  symptoms such as social withdrawal, changes in sleep patterns, and higher risk of illnesses. 

Respite care can help ease some of the symptoms of caregiver burnout by providing alternative care for their client or loved one, allowing them a much needed break that could range from a day to a couple of weeks. Allowing the caregiver a chance to recharge enables them to give their full effort and energy once they return to their supportive role.

Respite helps caregivers find balance in their lives and is especially helpful in the event of an emergency, if there are other medical issues that need to be attended to, or if they fall ill and are unable to perform their duties.

What are the Benefits of Respite Accommodation?

Besides providing a break for a patient’s primary caregivers, there are also benefits of respite accommodation for the patients living with disabilities. Some key outcomes include:

• overcome unexpected functional changes
• improved personal and life skills
• increased independence and functional abilities
• work towards achieving an individual’s NDIS plan goals
• meet new peers with similar interests or challenges

Ultimately, with respite care, both patient and caregiver can come back to their usual home dwelling with a renewed commitment to the patient’s goals.

What is the Difference Between Respite Care and Residential Respite Care?

Respite care is a broader term for any kind of short-term respite, whether it is at home or in a facility. Residential respite refers to the place where the respite takes place. Respite care can take place in your own home, at day-care centers, or at residential, or skilled-nursing facilities that offer overnight stays.

How Long Can You Stay In Respite Care?

Respite care is inherently short-term in nature, as it is not meant to be a permanent solution for provision of support to disabled persons or their caregivers. The amount of time needed for respite care can vary depending on the situation. It could be a one-off day, a few days a week, or if a longer term is needed, it may reach to a few weeks or up to a month break.

How Many Respite Days Are You Entitled To Every Year?

The Australian government subsidises respite care directly, if you are eligible for respite care you can access up to 63 subsidised days each financial year. This includes both emergency and planned residential respite care. If you need to extend this past the initial 63 days you can take an additional 21 days at a time with approval from a care assessor.

If you wish to organise a respite care stay in a facility you will need to be assessed first. The assessment helps to determine the level of care needed and the subsidy that the provider will receive to provide the care. Remember that it can be difficult to book a space too far in advance as availability in respite care facilities can change often. 

What Services Does Respite Care Provide?

Respite care providers such as Maple offer a range of different services which can be adjusted to the needs of an individual client. Whether a person is in need of assistance with daily living tasks, needs to learn new skills, or wants to participate more in the community, Maple can work with you to tailor the respite care you need.