Respite Care

Many people in Australia live with their primary carer. While it can be rewarding to care for a loved one, it can also be mentally, emotionally and physically taxing. This is where respite care with St Vincent’s Care Services can help.

Note: If you need immediate emergency respite care, contact us now on 1800 778 767.

Respite care is emergency or planned care which provides carers with a break from caring for a loved one.

There’s nothing wrong with needing a break from the people we care for. In fact, some time away from each other can be incredibly healthy. Regular breaks for carers can ensure they are better able to continue to provide quality care over the long term. For families respite care can help improve the health and wellbeing of the family unit.

You can access respite care for a few hours, a few days or even longer. It all depends on your needs, your eligibility and what services are available in your area.

Your respite care can be planned in advance - such as when a carer has a planned trip or appointment to attend - or available in emergencies - such as when a carer has an unplanned hospital stay.

Home respite
care

Respite care where a carer comes to your home.

Community respite
care

Respite care provided at a centre during the day usually at a day centre, club or residential setting.

Residential respite
care

Respite care provided in an aged care home.

St Vincent’s takes away the stress of accessing respite.

Whether you’re going away on a holiday and need to make plans last minute, or you’ve had some emergency health problems yourself and need someone to take care of your loved one, St Vincent’s can help.

Why choose St Vincent’s for residential respite?

Residents who stay at St Vincent’s respite look forward to their stays and in fact, over half of people who come to respite temporarily decide to stay permanently!

People love respite at St Vincent’s because we tailor their experience to what they like to do. There’s so much on offer, that it’s rare that we can’t find something that suits them.

Respite residents take part in all the day to day activities including:

Games and clubs
Outings to the community
Concerts and sing-a-longs
Outdoor barbeques
Visits from pets
Cooking classes
Art classes
Movie viewings
Multidenominational services
Pamper care...and more!

*Lifestyle activities will differ depending on your choice of home

Residents look forward to respite at St Vincent’s

Furnished single bedroom with private ensuite
Delicious meals prepared fresh daily
24/7 care from registered nurses
Daily leisure and lifestyle activities
A support team made up of our clinical team, facility manager, lifestyle coordinators and more!
Expert medical and clinical advice provided through our hospital network
Spiritual and emotional support (where needed) from our pastoral care team
Laundry and cleaning
GP visits as required

You don’t need to feel guilty for needing a break as a carer. At St Vincent’s we can not only relieve some of that time and responsibility for a short while, but give residents a time to look forward to.

If you think you want to try St Vincent’s respite for yourself, give us a call on 1800 778 767.

St Vincent's Care offers respite care and aged care services across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

From respite services in our aged care homes to respite support in your home, we can support you when you need a break as a caregiver.

St Vincent's offers respite care across major cities and areas including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Sydney & Melbourne.

You can access respite care in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Undertake an ACAT assessment -- You can organise an ACAT assessment through My Aged Care.

Step 2: Talk to our team -- Organise a tour of your local facility and confirm the dates of your stay.

Step 3: Enjoy your stay -- Feel safe, well looked after and enjoy your time away!

Get started with respite today. Call our team on 1800 778 767 for guidance on getting your ACAT assessment or organising a tour of a St Vincent’s home.

You can access respite care for a few hours, a few days or even longer. It all depends on your needs, your eligibility and what services are available in your area.

Your respite care can be planned in advance - such as when a carer has a planned trip or appointment to attend - or available in emergencies - such as when a carer has an unplanned hospital stay.

Residential respite (or Nursing Home Respite) is available for up to 63 days of subsidised care in a financial year. This includes both planned and emergency residential respite care.

If you need emergency respite care, contact St Vincent’s Care Services on 1800 778 767.

Situations when emergency respite care may be required:

Death of a primary carer
Major illness of a primary carer
An urgent situation that makes it difficult for your primary carer to look after you

You may need to provide some information when you call so that our team can ensure the right type of care is provided.

During your stay you will be entitled to and receive the same care and support services as our permanent residents. You will receive a room and hotel-type services such as meals, social activities, and laundry, as well as services to meet your personal and care needs.

Based on your ACAT assessment you will be approved for either low or high level care which will determine the level of respite care subsidy your care provider receives.

You can typically access up to 63 days of subsidised respite care each financial year, including both planned and emergency residential respite care.

It is possible to extend respite care by 21 days at a time with further approval from your aged care assessor. This will be based on your care needs, carer stress or the absence of your carer.

You may be eligible for respite care if you are an older person who has a carer to help with your day-to-day care needs.

You will need to undertake a face-to-face assessment to determine your eligibility. The criteria is the same for permanent residential aged care. You can access residential respite care in addition to receiving support from the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or a Home Care Package however you cannot access residential respite care if you are already permanently living in an aged care home.

Learn more about costs of home care

The cost of respite depends on the level of care you require. You may also be asked to contribute to the cost of your respite care and services.

To get a better idea of the specific costs of respite care, call us on 1800 778 767.

Find help close to you

Respite Care

What is respite care?