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Respite Care

Respite care is ‘care for carers’. If you spend any time helping a partner, family member or friend, then YOU are a carer. The pressure of caring for someone you love can lead carers to become exhausted and/or feel overwhelmed. Taking “time out" safeguards YOUR own physical and emotional wellbeing and helps you maintain your caring role.
Taking breaks can be difficult at first. Here are some tips from other carers that may help:

• Start with small breaks and work up to longer ones
• Make respite real for both of you by taking a complete break – don’t be tempted to visit
• Remember that it is important for your health and well-being to take regular breaks. It’s worth a try.

‘Don’t feel guilty about it. If you need help, ask for it. Don’t let the situation get desperate.’

If something happens to me what will happen to the person I am caring for?

It’s important to plan regular breaks, but sometimes emergencies can happen which mean you need urgent respite care. An emergency might be the death of a relative, or a sudden illness or accident that means you must be admitted to hospital. Emergency respite care can be arranged in most areas if needed.

You can use an emergency care plan to make alternative arrangements for the person you are caring for. This may help you stop worrying about what would happen if you had an accident or suddenly became ill.

At Focus Healthcare respite is based on a careful assessment of client and carer needs – which may include an assessment of the need for nursing supervision of the client. Priority is given to identifying and fitting in with carer needs and appointments, with special attention given to ensure that the client enjoys the respite period through an agreed mix of company, planned activity and supervision.

How to receive respite care from Focus Healthcare

Any person needing respite care can receive it from Focus Healthcare. All that is required is a telephone call to 1300 363 262 (24 hours / day). Our contact centre personnel will process the referral promptly and can advise you of charges and options for payment and any rebates (e.g. as part of hospital discharge planning or from the Department of Veterans Affairs (War Veterans).

Once a referral is received our Home Services Coordinator will assign one or more Home Support Workers to provide the services required. The coordinator is responsible for supervision of the respite care you received from Focus Healthcare and for communication with other people who may be involved e.g. a nurse, your GP and other members of your family.

Charges

Generally, a respite schedule will be agreed with the carer and Focus’ Home Support Coordinator will prepare a quote for those specific times. Prices will change if the requested respite periods vary.