Carer’s search for dementia respite care led to more than 30 enquiries
A woman says she could not book a five-day stay for her husband, who has advanced Alzheimer’s, and arranged for friends to care for him while she travelled.
In an opinion article published by The Guardian, a carer says she was unable to secure a five-day respite stay for her husband, who lives with her and has advanced Alzheimer’s. She was seeking care while travelling to a board retreat in Queensland.
She says My Aged Care’s provider search listed 188 homes as offering dementia respite. After contacting more than 30 residential and cottage care providers, she found none with a place for her required dates.
The writer says many providers told her respite depended on a permanent care bed becoming vacant, leaving availability uncertain. She wanted a facility with a four-star or better My Aged Care rating and dementia support.
She also contacted Carer Gateway about emergency respite. In her case, she says, the option offered was up to four hours a day, which she considered inadequate for her husband’s round-the-clock supervision and support needs.
She says she will take him from Sydney to Melbourne, where friends in regional Victoria will care for him for five days while she travels to Queensland. The account describes her experience and does not establish how widespread the availability problems are.
The writer calls for dedicated short-stay places, clearer booking information, better coordination among My Aged Care, Carer Gateway and providers, and dementia-specific support that accounts for overnight or continuous care.
