Respite Care is a term used to describe placing a person into residential care for a short period of time (usually a minimum of two weeks and generally a maximum of 63 days in a financial year).

‘Planned respite’ is a short-term placement that is organised in advance. Planned respite provides carers with a break from caring for their loved ones and helps them avoid fatigue, stress, poor health or even ‘carer burnout’. A well-planned respite can also be a positive experience for a loved one in need of care, providing them with a change of environment and the opportunity to meet new people while receiving expert care.

‘Emergency respite’ arises when there is little warning or time to plan for a short-term placement. A loved one may need emergency respite as an alternative to hospitalisation, or following discharge from a hospital, before transitioning back to care at home. Sometimes the carer may become unwell themselves and require urgent medical attention or time to recover from sickness or surgery. Emergency respite might also be required when a carer needs to travel on short notice and is therefore unable to care for their loved one.

Respite care provides families with an opportunity to prepare for the transition of a loved one back into the home, or to consider whether permanent placement in a well-matched residential care facility is a more suitable care option.

Your Aged Care Companion is an expert in organising emergency respite, accepting referrals from:

• Hospitals, GPs and other health professionals
• Families of loved ones
• People seeking emergency respite for themselves.

Your Aged Care Companion strives for the best-possible care outcomes for its clients. We can assist you plan for the care of your loved one as they transition home from respite care by identifying and connecting you with suitable aged care service providers. We also consider the suitability of any facility for permanent placement in the event your loved one’s care needs change and long-term placement is required.

Our emergency service is also available outside of normal office hours, on weekends and on public holidays. If you would like to discuss respite as an option for your loved one, please get in touch with us by phoning 8332 8409.

Contact us today to discuss your Respite Care in Adelaide