What should I be clear about when exploring respite options?

Respite generally means taking a break from your usual responsibilities, but its meaning — and how you access it — can vary depending on the context.

In the health sector, you might be advised that you or someone you support could benefit from respite or carer support. However, that doesn't automatically mean you can arrange it yourself, unless you’re planning to pay privately. If you do choose to pay privately for respite in a care home, it’s likely to cost over $200 per day.

If you’re not paying privately, you’ll need to access publicly funded respite through a subsidy. This requires an assessment. There are three main types of age related, subsidised support available, each offering different ways to take a break:

• Respite Care Subsidy – Typically used for short stays in a care home.
• Carer Support Subsidy – Offers more flexibility but is funded at a lower rate.
• Subsidised Day Programme – Available for a set number of daytime hours only.

Before you seek respite, it’s important to be clear about the following:

• What type of respite you’re looking for.
• Whether you intend to pay for it privately.
• That if you receive a subsidy, it may not fully cover the cost — in which case you will need to pay a ‘top-up’ fee.