For families relying on aged care respite, the festive season is becoming a source of stress, according to opinion contributor Rachel Lane. Carers trying to organise a break are being told there is no availability, leaving them unable to book flights or accommodation or needing to cancel plans.
Respite care provides an older person with a short-term stay in an aged care home while their carer takes time off. While respite can be affordable, with approved users able to access up to 63 days a year at $68 a day and no accommodation costs or means-tested fees, Lane says approval does not guarantee care.
For those who cannot find a place, Lane suggests several alternatives. Private day respite can cost between $100 and $200 a day. Support at Home participants can use their funding, with independence services attracting contributions of 5 to 50 per cent depending on means. Day respite through the Commonwealth Home Support Program can cost as little as $5 a day. A retirement village serviced apartment could be an option; communities such as LDK, Odyssey and Videri, sometimes described as “private aged care”, offer apartments priced from $400 to $750 a night. Private in-home respite can cost between $55 and $155 an hour, while 24-hour care can exceed $1,000 a day. Lane notes that Carer Gateway and organisations such as Aged Care Decisions can help families understand their options.
Lane stresses that respite is not a luxury but what makes caring sustainable, and advises families to explore alternatives if the traditional option is unavailable, before reaching breaking point.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Respite care is essential for carers to prevent burnout; a Christmas shortage leaves many without a break.
- The gap between approval and actual availability indicates a systemic issue in aged care.
- Carers may be forced to cancel holiday plans or forgo needed time off.
Background
Respite care provides temporary accommodation and care for older people, giving carers a chance to take time off. The festive season is a peak period for demand. This opinion piece, by Rachel Lane, was published in The Age and Brisbane Times in November.
What to Watch
- Whether the federal government addresses respite shortages for future holiday periods.
- Private respite and in-home care options may see increased demand.
- Carers may need to plan and book far in advance for peak seasons.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Christmas aged-care shortage is stressing families.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “But for families relying on aged care, finding respite over the festive season is becoming a source of stress.”
- SupportedOpinion contributor Rachel Lane outlines alternatives for carers unable to secure a respite place.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Rachel Lane Money contributor”
- SupportedCarers seeking a festive-season break are being told there is no availability, leaving some unable to book travel or needing to cancel plans.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Carers trying to organise a break are being told there is no availability, leaving them unable to book flights or accommodation or needing to cancel their plans.”
- SupportedRespite care provides an older person with a short-term stay in an aged-care home while their carer takes a break.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “It provides an older person with a short-term stay in an aged care home while their carer takes a break.”
- Partly supportedApproved users can access up to 63 days of respite a year at $68 a day, with no accommodation costs or means-tested fees.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Respite can be very affordable as there are no accommodation costs or means tested fees. If approved you can access up to 63 days a year at a cost of just $68 a day, plus extras such as wine, haircuts and Foxtel.”
- SupportedApproval does not guarantee that respite care will be available.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Sadly, many families are discovering that approval does not guarantee care.”
- SupportedPrivate day respite can cost $100 to $200 a day.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Private day respite can cost between $100 and $200 a day.”
- SupportedSupport at Home participants can use their funding, with independence-service contributions of 5 to 50 per cent depending on means.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Support at Home participants can use their funding, with independence services attracting a contribution of between 5 and 50 per cent, depending on your means.”
- SupportedCHSP day respite can cost as little as $5 a day.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Day respite through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), can cost as little as $5 a day.”
- SupportedCommunities such as LDK, Odyssey and Videri, sometimes described as “private aged care”, offer serviced apartments priced at $400 to $750 a night.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Sometimes described as “private aged care”, communities such as LDK , Odyssey and Videri offer apartments with meals, cleaning, linen and personal care as well as the use of the community facilities. Prices range from $400 to $750 a night.”
- Partly supportedPrivate in-home respite can cost $55 to $155 an hour.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Private in-home respite can cost between $55 and $155 an hour during business hours.”
- SupportedTwenty-four-hour care can exceed $1,000 a day.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Shorter visits may be manageable, but 24-hour care can easily exceed $1000 a day.”