Respite is a break — for the participant, and for the people who care for them. It is not an admission that something has gone wrong, and it is not a last resort. Used well, planned respite is one of the things that keeps a caring arrangement sustainable for years rather than months.
Motherly Health Care is a registered NDIS provider (registration number 4053350558) providing respite and short-term supports across Oakville, Windsor, Richmond, Pitt Town, Box Hill, Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Blacktown and the wider Hawkesbury and north-west Sydney region, as well as metropolitan Adelaide.
What respite can look like
Short Term Accommodation (STA)
A stay away from home, usually up to 14 days at a time, with support included. For the participant it can be a genuine change of scene and a chance to spend time with different people. For a family carer it is time to rest, travel, attend to their own health, or simply have the house quiet.
In-home respite
Support workers come to the home so the usual carer can step out — for an afternoon, an evening, or overnight. This suits people who find being away from home unsettling, and families who want the routine kept intact.
Emergency and unplanned respite
Carers get sick. Hospital admissions happen. Arrangements fall through. Where we have capacity, we will try to help at short notice — and where we do not, we will tell you immediately rather than leaving you hoping. If you are in an unsafe situation right now, contact emergency services on 000.
What is included in a respite stay
- Personal care appropriate to your needs, including overnight support
- Meals, including support to follow a mealtime management plan, allergies and cultural or religious dietary requirements
- Medication support in line with your plan and your prescriber’s instructions
- Activities, outings and downtime — balanced to suit the person, not filled for the sake of it
- Support to maintain routines that matter, including sleep, prayer, medication timing and familiar rituals
Planning a stay that actually works
Respite goes well when the preparation is done properly and badly when it is rushed. Before a first stay we will want to know the practical things — medications, allergies, mobility, equipment, communication — and also the things that do not fit on a form. What helps this person settle. What signals they are becoming overwhelmed. What a good day looks like. Who they want to be able to phone.
For a lot of people, a short first stay works better than a long one. Getting one night right builds the confidence to book a week.
Support for carers
Carers are often the last people to ask for anything. If you are supporting a family member and you are running on empty, that is a reason to arrange respite, not a reason to feel guilty about it. The participant’s plan may fund supports specifically because sustaining the informal supports around them is part of what keeps them well.
Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) also provides counselling, coaching and emergency respite for carers in Australia, separately from the NDIS, and is worth knowing about.
How respite is funded
Short Term Accommodation, including respite, is generally funded from the Core Supports budget under Assistance with Daily Life. STA funding is commonly allocated as a number of days per year. In-home respite may instead be drawn from your general Core support hours.
Every plan is different. If you are not sure which budget a support sits under, bring your plan to the conversation and we will go through it with you line by line — or talk to your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator before you commit to anything.
Booking ahead
School holidays, Christmas and Easter book out early — often months in advance. If you know you will need a break around a particular date, talk to us well before it. If you need something urgently, call rather than emailing, and we will tell you straight away what is possible.
Talk to us about respite
Whether you are planning months ahead or need something this week, start with a phone call.
Call 0401 776 804, email [email protected], or send the enquiry form below. We will ask what you need, explain honestly whether we are the right fit, and tell you what we can start and when. If we are not the right service for you, we will say so and point you to someone who is.
Motherly Health Care is a registered NDIS provider (registration number 4053350558).