Caregivers require a method to take a break from their obligations. In such situations, respite care becomes necessary. NDIS participants are granted access to diverse support services, including NDIS Respite Care. It is a particular support that relieves those with disabilities and their caregivers. This type of support can be observed in various settings, including facility-based respite, in-home respite, and recreational respite. It provides caregivers with an essential respite from their daily duties. In this guide, we will provide comprehensive information on NDIS respite care and its importance.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care entails placing the person receiving care under the temporary supervision of another carer for a predetermined time. Care during a respite can last for as little as a few hours or as long as several days or weeks. Respite care provides short-term relief for carers so they can travel, take care of other responsibilities, or simply enjoy some much-needed rest. Respite care is a flexible form of care that can be adapted to fit the requirements of the primary carer and the person receiving care.
When a primary carer needs to leave town for a few days, respite care providers can step in to provide care for the care recipient in their own home. Alternatively, the care recipient can receive care at a senior living community and then return home when their primary carer returns. Respite care can also be a more casual arrangement in which the primary carer invites a friend or loved one to sit with the care recipient while the primary carer deals with other responsibilities.
How does NDIS Respite care work?
Once you have an accepted NDIS plan that includes funding for respite care, do the following:
- Look into service providers.
- Pick the one that fits your wants, your values, and the plan's goals.
- Then, make an appointment for the service that works for you.
- A caregiver will step in to help with the tasks during the respite time.
- The main caregiver can rest and recover, knowing their loved one still receives help and support.
- You should keep track of how long to ensure you don't exceed your budget.
- During your annual NDIS review, you can review your needs again and change your plan as needed.
Types of Respite Care
The NDIS offers different types of respite care to meet the needs of disabled people and those who care for them. Giving caregivers a break is very important, and this helps keep family ties and well-being strong. There are several types but here are the top five types of respite care.
1. Short-term accommodation
If you need help while you're away from home for a short time, short-term housing, such as NDIS respite care, is one option. If STA is part of your plan, the NDIS can pay for up to 28 days yearly. People usually only need this kind of help for a short time, up to 14 days in a row. Supported Independent Living and other long-term choices might be worth considering if you need them.
2. Host Living Arrangements
Some types of help let you stay with a friend or family member. This is called a host living situation. A host can help you with your disability and household jobs, give you emotional support, and make you feel like you're in a loving family home in exchange for payment or reimbursement through the NDIS plan. Individualised Living Options (ILO) is another name for this. Host living arrangements are a flexible and helpful choice for people who need NDIS respite housing or disability respite care.
3. Supports for Community-Based Activities
An important part of daily life is participating in social and recreational events. Making new friends and staying healthy are all fun ways to stay independent and make new friends. Through the Temporary Transform Payment (TTP) process, the NDIS can give you the extra help you need to participate in programs like learning and lifestyle activities, supported jobs, and community help.
4. In-home respite care
When you get in-home support, the new carer comes to your house. Someone paid to do this might do things that interest the person getting care at home, like talking or teaching them new skills. In-home respite care can also be given overnight, discussed below under "overnight or weekend" choices. This in-home help can be a lifesaver for people looking for NDIS respite care.
5. Overnight or weekend
A paid worker comes to your home or a facility to provide care overnight or over the weekend as "residential respite." This can include active overnight support for people who need help at night, like turning over in bed, or sleepover support for people who don't need care at night very often. These choices are helpful for people who need NDIS respite housing or disabled respite care.
Benefits of Respite Care
NDIS Respite care is good for both the person giving and getting care. Here are some of the main advantages:
- For Caregivers: Respite gives caregivers a chance to rest and feel better. It can help keep the general quality of care high and lower feelings of stress or burnout.+
- For People with Disabilities: Respite allows people to meet new people and do different kinds of activities. This helps them build their social skills and freedom.
You can read more on How Respite Care Improves Quality of Life.
Conclusion
NDIS respite care is a lifesaver for people who care for disabled people. It gives them a break from caring for others for a short time so they can recharge and take care of their own needs. It is an important service that greatly helps NDIS users and gives their caregivers time to care for themselves. We are here to help because we know how hard it can be to take care of someone with a disability. You can count on Care Assure to always be a safe place when you need a respite care service.
Still have questions?
Why not speak to our NDIS professionals? Our Care Assure experts can answer any question about NDIS Support. Simply call us on 08 7071 9276 or send us a message. We also offer:
- Supported Independent Living
- Respite Care
- NDIS Accommodation
- Daily Activities
- Community Recreation
- NDIS Plan Management
At Care Assure, we provide NDIS housing services all over Adelaide. We are a South Australian, family-owned organisation completely dedicated to providing all our participants with an equal and safe environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is considering a short stay important?
It has many benefits like the following:
- Try new activities for a change in your daily routine.
- A place to make new friends or develop new skills
- Giving informal support a break
- Temporary accommodation support
How is STA funded?
The NDIS usually funds up to 28 days of STA per year, which the participant can use flexibly in their funding. For example, some participants may be in dire need of accommodation. STA can give them an option to book accommodation in hotels for a temporary period. One may choose to use it in a block of 14 days for one weekend or 14 days at a time. To learn more about respite care duration, read about how long one can stay in respite care.
How does STA help individuals build their skills?
The STA can help individuals build their goals, such as increasing their independence or skills. Therefore, one may set their NDIS goals about their needs and wants in life. For example, an NDIS participant may want to build new connections or explore city life.
What is informal support during STA?
Informal support is a form of support provided by family, friends and other networks that support u. NDIS considers the possibility of long-term informal support. Supporting participants and also providing their carers with a break is essential. Furthermore, NDIS also recognises the need for other supports to be provided to the carers; this may include:
- Community Access Support
- Capacity Building Support
- In-home Care and Support
In addition, NDIS also considers the support provided by the family does not affect the participant's independence.
What about short-term accommodation for children?
As long as the criteria for reasonable and necessary are met, NDIS also supports the children. They depend entirely on the child's needs, including those of their family or carers. NDIS considers the entire circumstance to ensure complete support is provided. Not just in terms of STA but also in another form of support. For example, the need for assistive technology. The NDIS can fund STA for children who need further support, compared to children of similar age.
This can be useful for not only the child but also the family in the following ways:
- Long-term child support
- Maintaining a healthy family situation
- Positive behaviour support, such as creating a sleep routine
- Community access to building connections
- Supervision of concerning behaviour and implementing positive behaviour strategies.
Can STA be used in a crisis-based situation?
An important point, which is not to be missed, is if there is a need related to a participant's disability. NDIS can provide further support, however, if there is a housing crisis where the participant's need is not related to their disability. The NDIS cannot provide further support. It is always best to speak with your support coordinator, LAC or Early Child Partner for further information.
