Consumer-Directed Respite Care
In 2010, the Australian Government announced new consumer-directed care funding packages for older people and consumer-directed respite care packages for the carers of older people. These packages are an important step forward in allowing people to make real choices about how they access care and respite.
UnitingCare Community Options is one of only a few agencies in Victoria currently trialling consumer-directed respite care. While only a limited number of packages are currently available, the results so far have been extremely positive and we expect that over time, more and more packages will become available. We're excited to be a part of this pilot project, which provides a great opportunity for our staff to implement the experiences and discoveries we've made through the People at Centre Stage project.
WHAT IS CONSUMER-DIRECTED RESPITE CARE?
The Australian Government recently provided funding to 16 Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres across Australia so that they could deliver Consumer-Directed Respite Care (CDRC) packages as part of the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP). The National Respite Program provides access to planned respite to relatives and friends who care for someone at home who is affected by disability or frailty. The newly created Consumer-Directed Respite Care packages provide additional flexibility and control to people by putting them in charge of how and when they arrange respite.
WHAT TYPES OF RESPITE CARE ARE AVAILABLE
The types of respite available with these packages include:
- In-home respite care;
- Support workers to assist you when you are taking a break away from home; and
- Residential respite care.
Carers receiving a CDRC package will receive an annual respite budget of $4,200. Carers will be provided with information regarding all appropriate respite services available so they can direct the Centre to spend their CDRC budget on the respite services of their choice.
WHO PROVIDES CDRC SERVICES?
UnitingCare Communty Options administers the budget for each of the respite packages we provide and our staff work with the carer to arrange and coordinate the respite services they require. Actual respite services are delivered by service providers in the eastern region of Melbourne. Our role includes:
- Providing comprehensive information about the types and range of appropriate respites services available so that carers can make an informed decisions about the services they purchase;
- Purchasing services as directed by the carer (and within the limits of the respite package budget);
- Making payments from the respite package budget as authorised by the carer;
- Providing the carer with a monthly account balance, listing yearly expenditure to date and funds remaining; and
- Where appropriate, liaising with brokered service providers in partnership with the carer (to, for example, assist the carer negotiate the provision of in-home respite at a time that suits them).
HOW CAN I ACCESS CDRC SERVICES?
The target group for CDRC packages is carers of frail, older people (65 years or over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). All of the packages that we have available are currently filled, however please don't hesitate to contact us if you think you might be interested. Our staff will be happy to discuss the packages with you and put your name down for when a package becomes available. Please be aware that packages will be allocated on the basis of prospective carers’ relative needs and their suitability to participate.
If you are successful in accessing a CDRC package, the Centre will be responsible for undertaking an assessment of your particular needs and working with you to develop an agreed individual respite plan. The Centre will provide information about the services available in your local region to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the services you may be able to purchase using your individual budget.