Choosing an aged care facility for your loved one can be incredibly daunting. You want to know that your parent or family member will be both happy and well cared for. And while it’s natural to feel uneasy about making the right call – especially with everything that’s changed in the aged care space over the past couple of years – there’s more flexibility built into the system than most families realise. This is why it’s good to know that you may well be able to take advantage of respite care. It essentially gives you (and your loved one) the opportunity to “try before you buy” and give a particular home a proper test run, before committing long term.
It is worth also noting that despite the fact that the decision to settle on an aged care facility might appear to be final and a binding, long-term commitment, if you do find yourself in a position where you’re worried about the care your loved one is receiving, you can change facilities. And it’s certainly not as difficult a process as most people assume.
What is respite care?
Respite care offers a short-term stay in an aged care home – up to 63 days per financial year, with an aged care assessor able to approve extra days if you need them. It’s government-subsidised, which means there’s no accommodation deposit and no means-tested care fee – you simply pay the basic daily fee, currently around $66.80 a day (as at March 2026, reviewed every March and September in line with the pension).
This allows both you and your parent the chance to fully experience a home to see if it’s somewhere you might like to choose on a more permanent basis. Your parent can try the food, the care, their surroundings and the activities and get to know the staff and other residents, to see how they settle in. And you can get a real feel for how well they’re looked after. (It can also give you a little breathing room from being their primary carer if that is your situation) Once the short-term stay is over, you can make a far more educated and comfortable decision as to whether the home is right for you and your loved one.
Longer-term care doesn’t have to be permanent
Many families fall into the trap of believing that whichever aged care home they choose is set in stone. That once they place their elderly parent or relative into care, they’re committed to that home, forever. Yet this simply isn’t the case. You can change facilities. Knowing this gives you the power of choice. Yes, it’s important to make the best decision you can when it comes to the right aged care home, as moving an elderly parent around constantly isn’t ideal. However if your parent or relative just isn’t happy, or you have concerns about their care – you can move them somewhere else if you feel the need.
Unsure if respite is the answer? Getting support is the best way forward
There are so many questions and so many complexities when it comes to finding the right aged care home for your loved one and with the new Aged Care Act now in effect, the fees, funding and paperwork can feel even more overwhelming than before. It’s a time that can be incredibly distressing, trying to juggle the practicalities and arrangements, along with the families emotions too. This is why we help make the transition to aged care as seamless as possible. Having that expert support, with someone you can trust to guide you through the process, can really help ease a lot of the worry and stress. Check out our reviews on our website or Google – we are very proud of them.
If you’ve begun the search for an aged care home in or around Melbourne, we’d love to help. We can walk you through all the specialist aged care financial advice you need, so you can make the right choices from the outset.
