Respite and Carer Support

Caring for those who care

Caring for a loved one can be challenging. Respite enables carers to have time to themselves, while supporting the person being cared for in a stimulating and caring setting.

Our Respite and Carer Support options

At Uniting AgeWell, we understand the importance of supporting people who care for seniors in our community.

We offer a range of respite options to give carers a break, while providing a stimulating and supportive environment for the person they care for.

These options can include:

In Home Respite - a one-to-one service where a care worker provides respite within your home or the care recipient may be taken into the community.
Day Respite Program - respite is provided within a day centre setting, appropriate to individual care needs.
Community Access/Transit Groups - where a small group of clients go on an outing with the support of a care worker.
Overnight Respite - respite is provided overnight in an overnight cottage or other community residential facility. Respite can be arranged for 1 or 2 nights
Residential Respite Care - stay temporarily, for one week or more, at any of our Residential Care Communities across Victoria and Tasmania.

Our respite program is funded and reviewed annually by the Department of Health.

For more information about community respite or carer services, contact a Community Respite Service near you, or for residential respite care, contact the Uniting AgeWell team on 1300 783 435.

Residential Respite Care

Uniting AgeWell offer residential respite care at all of our residential care communities in Victoria and Tasmania. You may choose to stay for one week or more.

All respite clients have full access to the quality care and amenities offered at Uniting AgeWell residences including 24/7 registered nurses and skilled care staff, vibrant lifestyle and activities program, chef-prepared meals, and access to allied health services.

Learn more about residential respite

Dieter Reichter is a man of action

Some people express love with words. Others with actions. And Dieter is a man of action. So when he started to feel a little creaky after four knee replacements, he decided he needed to do something about it in order to carry on caring for his wife Joan.

Joan has had two serious bowel operations, nearly died three times and suffered four strokes - twice teaching herself how to walk again. She’s partially paralysed and while she manages to get around their Watsonia North home with a walker, knows she’d be lost if anything happened to her husband of 58 years.

So Dieter went on a six week Short Term Restorative Care Program through Uniting AgeWell and worked with Care Advisor Joyce Thuku, who is an occupational therapist. They worked out creative ways for him to exercise at home as well as installing a number of home modifications and equipment to help him.

Read their full story

Sharing the Care is our support kit for families and carers new to residential care.

Designed to help family carers and the person they care for make the transition to residential care a little easier.

Our comprehensive support kit guides you through what to expect and how to cope with this significant life change, from emotional responses and personal wellbeing to settling the resident into their new home. It provides practical advice and easy access to the information and supports you might need during this time of transition.

Learn more about Sharing the Care