Dementia Care Queensland
A woman in her sixties resting on a timber garden bench with a cup of tea, looking up at the sky.

Services

Short Term Accommodation and respite

A proper break, for everyone.

Caring for someone with dementia is a 24 hour job. Our respite gives families a real break and gives the person a safe, interesting stay with a dementia trained team, in one of our dedicated respite homes or at home.
Call 24/7 · 0439 143 082Enquire now

Respite, built for dementia.

Short Term Accommodation, also known as respite, is NDIS funded support that gives a person time away from their usual home and gives their family a break. In 2025 the NDIS renamed it short term respite, and in 2026 went back to the name Short Term Accommodation, so you may see either term in a plan. They mean the same support.

Our respite is built for dementia. Support is 1:1 as a minimum, the person's routines are kept, and the team reads changed behaviours rather than reacting to them. Families get regular updates, so they can actually rest.

Three ways to take a break.

  • Respite homes.

    Dedicated respite homes, set up for dementia, with 1:1 support as a minimum. Stays start at 14 days, which gives the person time to settle and the family time to properly recharge.

  • In-home respite.

    We come to the person, so they stay in familiar surroundings while the family takes a break. Ideal for shorter breaks and for people who find new places unsettling.

  • Emergency respite.

    When a carer is suddenly unwell or can't continue, call us at any hour. We'll talk you through options straight away.

Every stay includes

  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Personal care
  • Medication support
  • Active or sleepover overnight support
  • Outings and activities the person enjoys
  • Updates for the family

Who it's for.

  • Family carers who need a planned break
  • Carers facing an emergency, such as illness or a hospital stay
  • People who want to try supported living before moving to a SIL home
  • People who find change hard and need a team that understands dementia

How it works.

  1. Call or enquire.

    We'll check what the plan funds and what kind of break suits.

  2. Plan the stay.

    Routines, preferences, medications, what calms the person and what doesn't.

  3. Meet the team.

    Wherever possible, the person meets their team before the stay starts.

  4. Stay and handover.

    Updates during the stay, and a written handover at the end.

Emergency respite

Carer in crisis? Call now.

If you're a carer and something has happened, call 0439 143 082 at any hour. We'll talk you through the options straight away, including emergency respite.

Call 24/7 · 0439 143 082
Hands holding a mobile phone above an open laptop in a softly lit living room.

Our standards

Our commitments. In writing.

24/7
Our phone is answered day and night
Same day
Every enquiry answered
1:1
Minimum support in every respite stay
Before the stay
Team trained on the person's plans

Where it's available.

In-home respite is available across all of Queensland. Call us to find the respite home nearest to you.

Find your region

How it's funded.

Short Term Accommodation is funded from Core Supports in the person's NDIS plan. Plans commonly fund up to 28 days a year, but the amount depends on the individual plan. In-home respite is funded as support from Core Supports. We'll check what's available before anything is booked.

“When Mum was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at 58, we were completely lost. Every provider we called said they 'do dementia too' but it was always an afterthought. Dementia Care Queensland was the first place where the person on the other end of the phone actually understood what we were going through.”
Sarah M.Daughter of a participant living with young onset Alzheimer's, Cairns

Questions about Short Term Accommodation and respite

Related services

Everyone needs a break.

Plan a respite stay, or call us any time if you need help now.

Call 24/7 · 0439 143 082Enquire now