Respite for family carers: you do not have to wait until you are exhausted

CHSP funds respite under the name home or community general respite. It comes in two forms, and the assessment sets out which has been approved.

Respite in your own home. Under CHSP this is called flexible respite. A worker comes to the house, during the day or overnight, and stays with the person being cared for so the carer can go out, go to their own appointment, or simply sleep.

Or a few hours out. Community and centre based respite covers small outings and structured group activities away from the house. Whether that suits depends on the person, and on what the assessment has approved.

CHSP respite is funded to support and maintain the relationship between an older person and the people who care for them. That is a different goal from simply covering a shift.

So we plan it with both of you. A break that leaves either of you uneasy is not much of a break. That means getting to know the person being cared for, their routine and what settles them, before the carer walks out the door, and it means the same worker coming back wherever we can manage it.

Respite is a CHSP service, so it needs an aged care assessment first. The assessment is free. You ring My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or let us help you do it, and an assessor visits. If respite is approved, you choose your provider, and you can change your mind later.

You pay a contribution rather than the full cost, agreed with you before anything starts. If money is tight, say so. Every CHSP provider must have a client contribution policy that accounts for hardship.

If you are caring for someone and have not yet asked for help, this is the article that says: ask now, not later. Call 02 9556 9500 or get in touch.