Emergency Respite Care: A lifeline for Australian carers

Author: Tara Backman-Apap | Head of Sales and Client Relations

 

When life throws unexpected challenges your way while you’re caring for a loved one, emergency respite care can be your essential support system. As carers, you dedicate yourselves to looking after family members or friends who need assistance, but what happens when you suddenly can’t provide that care? This guide explores emergency respite care options in Australia and how they can help during difficult times.

 

What is emergency respite care?

Emergency respite care provides temporary relief for carers facing urgent or unexpected situations. 

This short-term solution ensures your loved one continues to receive quality care, bridging the gap during challenging times, giving you peace of mind knowing professional care is in place when you need it most.

 

Why emergency respite care is important

Caring for someone is rewarding and demanding, both physically and emotionally. When emergencies arise, the pressure can quickly become overwhelming, with emergency respite care offering several vital benefits:

• Provides a break: it provides timely support when you’re unable to fulfill your caring responsibilities.
• Ensures continuity of care: it guarantees your loved one’s needs are met without disruption during your absence.
• Reduces stress and anxiety: alleviates the anxiety of balancing your emergency with caring responsibilities.
• Prevents caregiver burnout: by offering temporary relief, it can prevent caregivers from reaching a point of exhaustion, which can be detrimental to both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
• Offers time to plan: in some cases, an emergency might highlight a longer-term need for additional support, providing time to explore long-term care options without feeling overwhelmed. 

 

Types of emergency respite care

In Australia, emergency respite care is available in different settings to accommodate various needs:

• In-home care: a caregiver comes to your home to aid with personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, home maintenance or companionship.
• Day respite care: individuals can attend a day centre or aged care home where they can participate in activities and socialise with others.
• Short-term stays in a residential home: this option provides 24-hour professional care in a home-like environment.

 

Emergency residential respite care 

For urgent situations when carers need immediate support, residential respite care is a reliable solution. This type of emergency care provides temporary accommodation in an aged care home with 24-hour professional support.

Residential respite care is particularly beneficial when:

• You need to be away for several days or longer
• Your loved one requires constant supervision or complex care

 

In residential settings, qualified employees provide comprehensive care including personal assistance, medication management, meals and social activities.

 

How to access emergency residential respite care

When you need emergency respite care, time is often of the essence. 

Typically, accessing government-subsidised residential respite care requires:

1. 1. ACAT assessment: an Aged Care Assessment Team evaluation to determine eligibility and care needs.
2. 2. My Aged Care: reaching out to My Aged Care to access services relevant to your circumstances.
3. 3. Carer Gateway: contacting the Carer Gateway for information and support in finding appropriate care.
4. 4. Local aged care providers: directly approaching aged care homes about availability.
5.  

In genuine emergencies where standard processes would take too long:

1. 1. Contact aged care providers directly: explain your emergency situation and enquire about immediate availability.
2. 2. Emergency respite admission: ask if the aged care provider of your choice can admit residents as ‘emergency respite residents’.
3. 3. On-site assessment: once admitted under emergency respite, the provider can arrange for an ACAT assessment to occur during the respite stay.
4. 4. Interim self-funding: be prepared to self-fund care until the assessment is complete (costs may be backdated once approval is granted).

 

Planning ahead for emergencies

While emergencies are unpredictable, having a plan in place can make all the difference:

• Research local options: identify respite care providers in your area before you need them.
• Create an emergency care plan: document your loved one’s needs, medication routines and preferences.
• Organise assessments early: arrange for an ACAT assessment even if you don’t currently need respite.
• Build a support network: identify family or friends who could provide temporary assistance.
• Keep important contacts handy: maintain a list of relevant services and their contact details.
• This preparation ensures you can act swiftly when emergencies arise, reducing stress and ensuring a smoother transition for your loved ones.

 

Costs and financial support for residential respite care

The cost of emergency respite care varies depending on the type of care, duration and specific provider. Financial support options include:

• Government subsidies: the Australia government provides subsidies to approved aged care homes for residential respite care.
• Basic Daily Care Fee: you may be required to pay a fee to contribute to basic daily living costs and any additional services within the home.
• Financial hardship assistance: available if you’re experiencing difficulty meeting the costs.

To understand your specific financial situation, we recommend seeking independent financial advice and contacting My Aged Care for information about government subsidies and the assessment process. 

At Estia Health, we're here to help guide you through the different costs when moving into one of our residential aged care homes. Visit here for more information.

 

Why choose Estia Health for emergency respite care

At Estia Health, we understand that entrusting the care of your loved one to others during an emergency is a significant decision. Here’s why families across Australia choose our homes for emergency respite care:

• Qualified, compassionate team: you’ll have peace of mind knowing your loved one is being cared for by an experienced team in a safe and supportive environment.
• Comprehensive care services: we take a holistic approach to care, ensuring that your loved one’s needs are met during their stay with us. This includes:
• 24-hour nursing care
• Nutritious meals tailored to dietary requirements
• Engaging social activities
• Comfortable, home-like accommodation
• Flexible emergency support: we understand emergencies are unpredictable. Estia Health offers emergency respite in urgent situations.
• Seamless transitions: our experienced team works to make the transition to respite care in an aged care home as smooth as possible. We work closely with families to understand preferences, routines and care requirements to maintain continuity of care. Many of our respite residents later choose to transition to permanent residency with us, a testament to the positive experience and quality of care they receive during their stay.

 

The path forward

Emergency respite care serves as a crucial safety net for carers facing unexpected challenges. By understanding your options and planning, you can ensure both your own wellbeing and the continued care of your loved one during difficult times.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can emergency respite care be arranged?

In genuine emergencies, providers will often try to arrange care as quickly as possible, sometimes within hours. Having an existing relationship with a provider and pre-approval for respite care can significantly speed up this process.

What if I need respite care but it's not a "true" emergency?

If you anticipate needing respite care soon but it's not an immediate emergency, it's best to start the process early. Contact My Aged Care or local providers to discuss availability and requirements.

How long can emergency respite care last?

Emergency respite care is typically short-term, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. The Australian Government subsidises up to 63 days of residential respite care each financial year, with extensions possible in certain circumstances.