Residential respite involves the person with dementia staying over in a residential centre/aged care home. Residential respite can be arranged on a planned or emergency basis. In emergency/short notice situations, carers use residential respite when they themselves are unwell or unable to provide care for another reason.
Residential respite usually takes place in a residential aged care or can also be offered within a specially designed ‘home’ or ‘cottage’. Most facilities have:
- communal ‘living’ or activity rooms, gardens and/or courtyards
- a staff kitchen
- sleeping areas – single or twin share rooms with suitably modified bathrooms (e.g., handrails and wheelchair access).
Residents can take part in activities similar to those offered at day-centres, such as music, arts and craft, cooking, and games.
Some residential respite services organise outings which residents can take part in. Some services include transport to and from the facility, while private transport is necessary for others.
Watch the video below of residential respite experiences of people living with dementia and their carers:
To be eligible for residential respite the person living with dementia will require an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team. Eligible people are entitled to spend up to 63 days per year in an approved residential aged care facility. For more information contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Planned Respite
My Aged Care: 1800 200 422
Carer Gateway
1800 422 737
National Dementia Helpline
1800 100 500