FAQ for Residential Respite Care & Permanent Aged Care Place Seekers

"Carers often find it difficult to book residential respite in advance, making it difficult to plan ahead, including for holidays and elective surgery. Many residential respite care providers do not use the MAC service as they are unaware of the demand for respite or how they can advertise respite beds while many carers, particularly those who do not have access to the MAC website or are not confident navigating it, find themselves directly calling around potential providers. It would be extremely helpful for carers, and the services that support them, if there was a real time booking system available to support their respite needs. The booking system could enable providers to list respite vacancies and carers to register their requirements."

1. Aged Care Assessment (ACAT/ASAS): A potential aged care resident will need to get an aged care assessment prior to entering a nursing home. This is a medical assessment done by a clinician from an Aged Care Assessment Service (VIC/WA), or Aged Care Assessment Team (all other States).
2. Respite: This is a short term stay in an aged care facility. The Australian Government subsidises up to 63 days of respite per financial year for an elderly person who has an aged care assessment. A respite stay is also a good way for a potential resident to get to know a facility.
3. What is residential respite accommodation?: It is an Aged Care service provider facility (ie aged care home) that provides residential respite care.
4. What is residential respite care?: Residential respite care is short-term care delivered within an aged care home on either a planned or emergency basis.
5. Who can access residential respite care?: An assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)/ ASAS is required to access residential respite care. Eligible care recipients are approved for either high or low level residential respite care.
6. What is Referral Code?: Referral Code is a 12 digit code (formatted like 1-12345678012) that is provided with an Aged Care Assessment. A potential aged care resident will likely receive a referral code for respite, permanent aged care, home care packages and other home care services. This code will allow aged care providers to view the aged care assessment online, and understand a potential aged care resident’s care needs.
7. Why do people use residential respite care?: The primary purpose of residential respite care is to give a carer or care recipient a break from their usual care arrangements. Residential care providers may receive respite subsidies and supplements for eligible residential respite care recipients. Residential care providers do not have a separate allocation of residential respite places. Rather a portion of each permanent allocation of residential care places is used for the provision of respite care, known as respite days.
8. How Long Can I stay in residential respite accommodation?: It depends on individual circumstances. Residential respite care is most commonly accessed in weekly units. A fortnight is by far the most common residential respite care length of stay. One, three and four weeks are the next most common lengths of stay. A person who is approved for respite care can have up to 63 days of subsidised respite care in a financial year. This can be extended by up to 21 days at a time if approved by an ACAT. Where a care recipient accesses residential respite care, providers are responsible for checking the care recipient’s remaining respite care allowance. Respite care subsidies and supplements are not paid if the care recipient has used up their annual allowance of respite care days.
9. Is there fee to use this platform to request booking?: Due to current high cost of living myRespiteAccom will NOT charge fee for a accepted booking.