Why breaks matter
Caring for someone living with dementia can mean being on call day and night. Without breaks, carers become exhausted, and that's when things tend to go wrong for everyone.
Respite gives you time to rest, catch up on your own life or simply sleep. Done well, it gives the person a good experience too.
Respite through the NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds respite through a support called Short Term Accommodation. In late 2025 the NDIS called it short term respite, and in 2026 it went back to Short Term Accommodation, so you may see either name in a plan. They mean the same support. We call it Short Term Accommodation and Respite.
It's for participants who usually live with, or get daily help from, family or friends. The NDIS says it's usually funded for up to 28 days a year, and the funding can be used flexibly. It's paid from Core Supports in the plan.
If respite isn't in the plan, or there isn't enough, talk to the support coordinator or the NDIA about whether the plan can change. Our guide to the NDIS and dementia explains how plans work.
Respite homes and in-home respite
Respite homes. Dedicated homes set up for dementia, with 1:1 support as a minimum. Our respite home stays start at 14 days, which gives the person time to settle and gives you time to properly recharge.
In-home respite. A dementia trained worker comes to the person, so they stay in familiar surroundings while you take a break. This is the better fit for shorter breaks, and for people who find new places unsettling.
Think about how the person copes with change. Some people enjoy a change of scene. Others settle best at home. Many families use both: in-home respite for regular short breaks, and a longer stay when the carer needs real time off.
Read more about our Short Term Accommodation and Respite and our dementia home care.
Emergency respite
Sometimes a carer is suddenly unwell, has to go to hospital or simply can't go on. Call us on 0439 143 082 at any hour. We'll talk through the options straight away, including emergency respite.
If anyone is in danger, call 000 first. Then call us when it's safe, and we'll help with what comes next.
Planning a stay
Plan early. The best respite is booked before you're exhausted. Before the stay, tell the team:
- The person's daily routine, including when they wake, eat and sleep
- Their medicines and health needs
- What they enjoy, and what calms them
- What upsets them, and what to avoid
- Any behaviour support plan
- How you'd like to get updates
Pack familiar things: photos, a favourite blanket, music they love. If you can, visit before the stay so the place and the team feel familiar.
The first stay can feel hard, for you and for them. Most people settle with time, and regular, planned breaks help everyone get used to them.
When the stay ends, ask for a handover: how the person slept, ate and spent their days, and anything the team noticed. It helps you pick up where they left off, and it helps plan the next break.
Looking after yourself
Use the break for you. Sleep, see friends, go to your own appointments. Notice how you're feeling, and talk to your GP if you're not coping.
Carer Gateway, an Australian Government program, offers free support for carers, including counselling, on 1800 422 737.
You're allowed to rest. Many carers feel guilty about taking a break. Regular respite helps you keep caring for longer, and it often means the person keeps living at home for longer too.
This guide is general information, current at the date shown above. It isn't legal, financial or medical advice. For decisions about an NDIS plan, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110.