Emergency respite may be needed by carers who have an emergency and require an immediate, time-limited break such as if they:
- become ill and are hospitalised at short notice
- have other health needs that prevent them from being able to provide the person with dementia with their usual care
- have an emergency in the immediate family that requires the carer to be present
- have a death in the immediate family.
Prepare for emergencies by completing an Emergency Care Plan. Having a plan in place can help you have confidence that if something goes wrong, the person you care for will still be looked after. For more information, visit the Carer Gateway website for advice on planning for an emergency.
Call the Carer Gateway Contact Centre for information and support
1800 422 737 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm local time
Emergency respite
If you suddenly find you can’t provide care, for example if you become ill or injured, call Carer Gateway for emergency respite.
1800 422 737 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Watch the video below of emergency respite experiences of people living with dementia and their carers/supporters:
My Aged Care: 1800 200 422
Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737
National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500