What Is Respite Care and How Long Can You Stay?
Caring for someone is rewarding, and it can also be tiring. Respite care gives carers a short break while the person they care for is supported by someone else. This guide explains what respite care is, the types available in Australia, how long you can stay in residential respite and how respite is funded.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care supports both you and your carer by giving you a break for a short time. It can be used when your carer needs rest, is planning a trip, or is unwell or injured and cannot provide care for a while. According to My Aged Care, respite can last a few hours, a few days or longer, and it can happen in your home, out in the community or in an aged care home.
Types of Respite Care
In Home Respite
A support worker comes to your home so your carer can have a break, for a few hours or overnight.
Community and Day Respite
Group activities or outings in the community or at a day centre.
Overnight and Cottage Respite
A short overnight stay in a home like setting, often over a weekend.
Residential Respite
A short stay in an aged care home, planned ahead or arranged in an emergency.
How Long Can Someone Stay in Respite Care?
For residential respite in an aged care home, eligible people can receive up to 63 days of subsidised respite in a financial year. This includes both planned and emergency stays. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing explains that this can be extended by up to 21 days at a time if an aged care assessor approves it.
- Keep a tally of the respite days you have used each financial year
- Extensions can be based on carer stress or absence, and your own needs
- If you go over 63 days without an extension, you may be asked to pay the full cost
- Not every aged care home offers respite, so check availability for your dates
What Does Respite Care Cost?
In residential respite you pay a basic daily fee, which the government sets at 85% of the single basic age pension. A home may also ask for a booking fee, capped at one week’s fees or 25% of the fee for the whole stay, whichever is lower. Means tested fees and accommodation costs do not apply to respite stays. If you cannot afford your fees, you can ask about financial hardship assistance.
Respite at home or in the community can be funded through Support at Home, where respite is an independence service and a contribution applies, or through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, which offers planned respite for people with lower needs.
Respite Under the NDIS
For NDIS participants, the support is called short term respite (previously short term accommodation). Most eligible participants are funded for up to 28 days a year, used for up to 14 days at a time, according to the NDIS. Read more on our Short Term Respite and Accommodation page.
Support for Carers
Carer Gateway provides free support for carers across Australia, including counselling, peer support and help planning respite. Call 1800 422 737 on weekdays between 8am and 5pm, or visit carergateway.gov.au.
Respite Care With GHCA
GHCA provides in home and community respite for older people through Support at Home, and short term respite for NDIS participants. Learn more on our Respite Care page.
Respite can be planned around your language, culture and traditions. Read how GHCA supports cultural and linguistic diversity.
Need a Break From Caring?
Talk with our team about respite options and funding. Call 1300 157 715, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, or send us a referral.