In-Home Respite for Dementia Carers: What It Is and What a Visit Involves

When you're caring for a partner or family member living with dementia, the hours can stretch into every part of the day. In-home respite gives you a few of those hours back. Someone you trust comes to your home and spends time with your loved one, so you can rest, see a friend or get things done.

This guide explains what in-home respite is, what happens during a visit, and how to tell whether it suits your family.

What in-home respite is

Respite simply means a short break for the person who usually provides care. It comes in a few forms: day programs at a centre, short stays in residential care, and in-home visits. In-home respite is the gentlest of these for many people living with dementia, because nothing about their surroundings changes. Their chair, their routine, their photos and their kitchen are all where they expect them to be.

A visit usually lasts a few hours. You can stay home and use the time for something quiet, or go out.

What happens during a visit

My visits are companionship. That means:

• Keeping to their routine. Morning tea at the usual time, the usual radio station, a walk around the block if that's what they do.
• Doing things they enjoy. Conversation, music, looking through photos, a puzzle, light gardening or a short walk nearby.
• A calm, safe presence. If your loved one becomes unsettled, I stay calm and follow what you've told me works for them.
• A short handover. Before I leave, I tell you how the visit went.

I don't provide personal care, such as showering or toileting, give medication, or drive. If an emergency occurs, I call 000 and then you.

Before the first visit: the meet-and-greet

Every new family starts with a free 15-minute meet-and-greet at home. You and your loved one meet me, and you tell me about their routines, likes and dislikes, and what helps them settle. I write down everything important: emergency contacts, health conditions and warning signs to watch for. I also bring my police check, worker screening and insurance certificates so you can see them.

There's no obligation. If it doesn't feel right, that's the end of it.

Is it right for your family?

In-home respite tends to suit families where:

• Your loved one is most settled at home, and outings or new places are unsettling.
• You need a regular, predictable break, such as the same afternoon each week.
• Companionship and supervision are what's needed, rather than personal or nursing care.

If your loved one needs help with personal care, medication or nursing, an in-home respite visit like mine won't cover it, and a registered aged care provider is the better starting point.

Paying for it

My visits are $60 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, with 5% off 3-hour visits and 10% off 4-hour visits. If your loved one has a Support at Home package and their registered provider allows third-party contractors, that funding can sometimes be used. I link up with your provider to arrange it. Otherwise, visits are privately paid.

Looking after yourself counts too

Taking a break isn't stepping back from caring. It's part of being able to keep going. For reliable information about dementia and support for families, Dementia Australia is the best place to start.