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CDRC Operational Manual

Consumer Directed Respite Care (CDRC) Operational Manual 2012-13

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Contents

1. Overview of CDRC Program
2. Participating CRCC (Centre) Requirements
3. CDRC Delivery Guidelines
4. Glossary

1 Overview of CDRC Program

As the Consumer Directed Respite Care (CDRC) packages are funded under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP), please read this Operational Manual in conjunction with the National Respite for Carers Program Guidelines (NRCP Guidelines) and the Program Manual for Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres.

1.1 Introduction

In July 2010 the Australian Government commenced CDRC as part of its continuing commitment to providing frail, older Australians with responsive, carer-centered community care services.

Consumer (or self) directed respite care allows carers to take a break from their caring role and will give carers a greater say and more control over the design and delivery of respite services provided to them and the person/s they care for. This will allow carers to make choices about the types of respite services they access and the delivery of those services, including who will deliver the services and when. Expected outcomes of consumer directed care for both carers and the person/s they care for include a better quality of life due to increased independence and empowerment over the services they are receiving.

The CDRC program will be funded until 30 June 2013 under the National Respite for Carers Program and focuses on respite services provided under the NRCP.

Further information about Consumer Directed Respite Care and CDRC Centre’s with CDRC packages is available at the Department of Health and Ageing website.
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1.2 Background

The Australian Government has provided funding to selected Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (Centres) across Australia to deliver CDRC packages under the NRCP. The NRCP is one of several initiatives designed to support and assist relatives and friends caring at home for people who are unable to care for themselves because of disability or frailty.

There are 54 Centres across Australia that are auspiced by a wide variety of community organisations in metropolitan, rural and remote regions across Australia. Centres can help when carers need to take a break from their caring role by arranging respite. They do this by acting as a single contact for information needed by carers and by organising, purchasing, or managing respite services for carers.

Examples of respite services include:

• in-home respite care;
• support workers to assist you when you are taking a break away from home;
• emergency respite services; and
• residential respite care.

Respite care is defined as an alternative or supplemental care arrangement with the primary purpose of giving the carer:

• a short-term break from their usual caring role; and/or
• assistance with the performance of their caring role on a short term basis.

Respite care is divided into 2 service types:

• direct respite services – provide the carer with quality alternative care for the person for whom they are the primary carer, for a short term (for example, in an emergency such as carer illness, or for planned/ regular respite breaks, including short holidays). The alternative care may be provided in the home or other suitable accommodation; and
• indirect respite services – provide the carer with short term assistance with the performance of some of their caring duties (for example, provision of equipment to assist in the performance of the caring role, assistance with performance of some of the carer’s caring tasks to facilitate continuation of the caring role, assistance with costs incurred by the carer that are directly related to the performance of the caring role, etc); and with help by relieving the carer from some of the other tasks of daily living (i.e. tasks other than the caring role), which are not directly related to their caring responsibility – for example, the provision of assistance with shopping, cleaning, etc.

1.3 Model

Under the CDRC model, the Centre remains the funds’ holder, but expends each client’s budget as directed by the client.

The objectives of CDRC are to:

• showcase a consumer directed approach to respite care;
• explore more effective ways of empowering carers by allowing them – to the extent they are capable and wish to do so – to actively choose the respite services they receive, including with respect to who delivers the respite care and when; and
• provide an opportunity to conduct research into consumer directed care in Australian Government funded community care programs.

The CDRC target groups are carers of:

• frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 and over if Indigenous (including people with dementia and/or challenging behaviour).

However, under NRCP Guidelines, there are other target groups, such as:

• younger people (under 65, under 50 if indigenous) with moderate, severe or profound disabilities who are living at home; and
• people with a terminal illness in need of palliative care.

For these target groups, the Department would, in the first instance, encourage Centres to source alternate services for those carers. CDRC packages may be used for these groups where carers of frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 years and over if Indigenous, have not been identified.

CDRC aligns with the NRCP objectives and standards to contribute to the support and maintenance of caring relationships between carers and their dependent family members or friends by facilitating access to information, respite care and other support appropriate to their individual needs and circumstances and those of the people for whom they are caring.

1.4 Funding

Participating Centres will each receive a TOTAL of $6,200 per allocated CDRC place for the financial year, to be expended as follows:

• $4,200 individual budget per CDRC place to be expended by the Centre, as agreed on the CDRC Respite Care Plan between the carer and the Centre and then as directed by the carer for the agreed respite care; and
• $2,000 per CDRC place to be used by the Centre for administration costs associated with the administration of each respite package’s budget, client management and participation in evaluation where required.

This funding will be paid to the Centres on a monthly basis.

The amount of $4,200 (over a 12 month period) is the total budget to which each CDRC participant is entitled. It would be expected that each CDRC participant would plan to expend the full amount of $4,200. However, the Centre may pool the funds and the amount for each CDRC participant can be more or less depending on carers’ assessed needs. Each individual carer’s budget must be documented.

1.5 CDRC Funding Agreement

Successful Centres are required to enter into a CDRC Funding Agreement with the Australian Government, which is legally binding on both parties signing. The agreement outlines how the participating Centre will deliver consumer directed respite care and include commitment to areas such as maintenance of quality of care and provisions for clients leaving a CDRC package.
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1.6 CDRC Payments

The Department will issue a Recipient Created Tax Invoice (RCTI) each month to participating Centres and funds will be paid to the participating Centres’ nominated bank account on a monthly basis, following acceptance by the Commonwealth of the services.

2 Participating CRCC (Centre) Requirements

The participating Centre is responsible for undertaking the activities of assessment, planning, linkages and support for carers, short term and emergency respite brokerage, residential respite booking, promotion, respite service development and support.

2.1 Responsibilities

To meet the CDRC outcomes, the Centre is responsible for:

• Selection of carers – Carers from the Centres region are to be selected by the CRCC and offered a CDRC package on the basis of carers’ respite needs and their suitability and willingness to participate in CDRC.
• Care assessment and planning – The Centre will be required to undertake an assessment of each participating carer’s particular needs and work with the carer to develop an agreed individual respite plan. The Centre will need to provide information about the services available in their local region which is extensive, easy to access and understand. The Centre is responsible for ensuring that carers are fully aware of the potential uses of their individual budgets.
• Administration of individual CDRC budgets – The Centre will administer the budget for each CDRC package, including arranging and coordinating the provision of respite services as agreed to by the carer. This will include:
  • subcontracting services as directed by the carer (and within the limits of the respite package budget and NRCP program);
  • making payments from the respite package budget as confirmed and authorised by the carer within the limits of the respite package budget and the NRCP Program;
  • providing the carer with a monthly account balance, listing yearly expenditure to date and funds remaining; and
  • where necessary, liaising with brokered service providers in partnership with the carer (for example, to assist the carer negotiate the provision of in-home respite at a time that suits them).
• Ensuring services are delivered in a manner consistent with program Guidelines – CDRC operates under the NRCP. Centres need to ensure that respite services are carried out in accordance with the terms, conditions and requirements of the Funding Agreement. Centres are also required to comply with the Administrative and Program Guidelines for Respite Services funded under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) and the Program Manual for Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres.
• Flexible service delivery – Centres will need to be flexible in their approach to assisting CDRC package recipients, including assisting carers to access services from respite providers with which the Centre does not have an existing relationship.
• Participation in evaluation activities – Centres must participate in evaluation activities as requested/directed by the Department.

2.2 Legislation

There are legal responsibilities in regard to operating a NRCP Respite Service.

Becoming the operator of a NRCP funded respite service means accepting the legal responsibilities associated with setting up and administering the service. Service providers must be incorporated under relevant State or Territory legislation and comply with all Australian Government, State/Territory and local government statutes, by laws and other prescribed requirements. This includes the requirement for the service to meet all their obligations in respect of all taxes, duties and government charges and appropriate insurances/s and to comply with legislation, standards and codes in relation to Risk Management and Work, Health and Safety.

For full details regarding these legal responsibilities, please refer to the National Respite for Carers Guidelines (NRCP Guidelines) and the Program Manual for Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres as replaced or updated from time to time.

2.3 The Community Care Common Standards (Common Standards)

The participating Centre must undertake the Project in support of the aims of the CDRC, NRCP and CRCC programs and in accordance with the NRCP Guidelines and the Operational Manual, as replaced or updated from time to time.

In respect of respite funded through the National Respite for Carers Program, ‘the consumer’ of a respite service is the carer and the care recipient. The needs of both must be met in the provision of a service.

Service providers have the responsibility to provide services in accordance with the following Common Standards objectives:
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Text version of Common Standards Objectives

Standard 1: Effective Management

The service provider demonstrates effective management processes based on a continuous improvement approach to service management, planning and delivery.

Expected Outcome 1.1: Corporate Governance

The service provider has implemented corporate governance processes that are accountable to stakeholders.

Expected Outcome 1.2: Regulatory Compliance

The service provider has systems in place to identify and ensure compliance with funded program guidelines, relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and professional standards.

Expected Outcome 1.3: Information Management Systems

The service provider has effective information management systems in place.

Expected Outcome 1.4: Community Understanding and Engagement

The service provider understands and engages with the community in which it operates and reflects this in service planning and development.

Expected Outcome 1.5: Continuous Improvement

The service provider actively pursues and demonstrates continuous improvement in all aspects of service management and delivery.

Expected Outcome 1.6: Risk Management

The service provider is actively working to identify and address potential risk, to ensure the safety of service users, staff and the organisation.

Expected Outcome 1.7: Human Resource Management

The service provider manages human resources to ensure that adequate numbers of appropriately skilled and trained staff/volunteers are available for the safe delivery of care and services to service users.

Expected Outcome 1.8: Physical Resources

The service provider manages physical resources to ensure the safe delivery of care and services to service users and organisation personnel.

Standard 2: Appropriate Access and Service Delivery

Each service user (and prospective service user) has access to services and service users receive appropriate services that are planned, delivered and evaluated in partnership with themselves and/or their representative.

Expected Outcome 2.1: Service Access

Each service user’s access to services is based on consultation with the service user (and/or their representative), equity, consideration of available resources and program eligibility.

Expected Outcome 2.2: Assessment

Each service user participates in an assessment appropriate to the complexity of their needs and with consideration of their cultural and linguistic diversity.

Expected Outcome 2.3: Care Plan Development and Delivery

Each service user and/or their representative, participates in the development of a care/service plan that is based on assessed needs and is provided with the care and/or services described in their plan.

Expected Outcome 2.4: Service User Reassessment

Each service user’s needs are monitored and regularly reassessed taking into account any relevant program guidelines and in accordance with the complexity of the service user's needs. Each service users’ care/service plans are reviewed in consultation with them.

Expected Outcome 2.5: Service User Referral

The service provider refers service users (and/or their representative) to other providers as appropriate.

Standard 3: Service User Rights and Responsibilities

Each service user (and/or their representative) is provided with information to assist them to make service choices and has the right (and responsibility) to be consulted and respected. Service users (and/or their representative) have access to complaints and advocacy information and processes and their privacy and confidentiality and right to independence is respected.

Expected Outcome 3.1: Information Provision

Each service user, or prospective service user, is provided with information (initially and on an ongoing basis) in a format appropriate to their needs to assist them to make service choices and gain an understanding of the services available to them and their rights and responsibilities.

Expected Outcome 3.2: Privacy and Confidentiality

Each service user’s right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality is respected including in the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

Expected Outcome 3.3: Complaints and Service User Feedback

Complaints and service user feedback are dealt with fairly, promptly, confidentially and without retribution.

Expected Outcome 3.4: Advocacy

Each service user’s (and/or their representative’s) choice of advocate is respected by the service provider and the service provider will, if required, assist the service user (and/or their representative) to access an advocate.

Expected Outcome 3.5: Independence

The independence of service users is supported, fostered and encouraged.

End text version of Common Standards Objectives

The Common Standards provide a common reference point for service agencies for internal quality control, monitoring and evaluation. They also provide the basis for evaluating the quality of services provided.

The Common Standards are based on a range of principles of good practice. They provide a common set of standards for Centres involved in service delivery to work towards. Some Centres will already have in place many of the policies and procedures required to meet the standards.

2.4 Accountability and Reporting

The reports required are specified in the Funding Agreement; and the participant Centre must provide the following reports and statements to the Department:

• A Progressive Financial Accountability Report (PFAR), to be submitted within 30 days of the completion of the initial six month period of the Agreement, in the format provided by the Department;
• An end of financial year Financial Accountability Report (FAR), as an End of Financial Year, to be submitted by 30 September at the end of each financial year of the period of the Agreement, in the format provided by the Department;
• An end of financial year Service Activity Report (SAR), as an End of Financial Year Report, to be submitted by 30 July at the end of the financial year of the period of the Agreement, in the format provided by the Department;
• A transition out plan, to be submitted within six months of the commencement of this project; and
• Report in the Minimum Data Set (MDS), as outlined in the CRCC Operational Manual.

Centres with CDRC places will be required to participate in the Quality Reporting program. As specified in section 6.4 of the Centre Program Manual. The Quality Reporting process required providers to report on their systems for delivering services in accordance with the Community Care Common Standards. Information about Quality Reporting is available from the Department’s website.

The Quality Reporting Program also reports on police check requirements for all staff and unsupervised volunteers who have or are reasonably likely to have access to carers and care recipients through the Centres. Centres are required to ensure that staff and volunteers are assessed as suitable to work in the aged care service by obtaining a national criminal history record check (police check).

For further information about the requirement for police checks in aged care please contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or follow the links at the Departments Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance (OACQC) webpage.

2.5 Maintenance of Quality

Participating Centres will need to be vigilant in maintaining quality of care under consumer direction as more informal services (unfamiliar to the provider) may be selected by care recipients. To help monitor quality, the provider will be required to undertake quarterly care quality checks at the carer’s home.
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3 CDRC Delivery Guidelines

3.1 Role of the CRCC

The role of the CRCC is to:

• undertake a needs assessment to identify services needed (and undertake regular reassessment);
• develop a respite plan in consultation with the carer;
• administer the budget (pay invoices, provide monthly budget statements);
• provide advice on the formal and informal services available; and
• broker services – contact services and arrange visits etc.

3.2 Role of the Carer

The role of the carer is to:

• develop a respite plan and budget for the year, in consultation with the Centre;
• direct the Centre as to whom they wish to deliver their services;
• have input into any specific training to the workers employed (eg. specific to needs);
• follow up issues with Centres; and
• nominate a representative if required.

3.3 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility for participation in CDRC is limited to carers who:

• care for frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 and over if Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (including people with dementia and/or challenging behaviour);
• are assessed as being likely to benefit from increased choice over their carer respite services;
• have a variety of service needs that maximise the choice that CDRC offers;
• willingly choose to participate;
• are assessed for their capacity to make informed decisions;
• are assessed as having the capacity and an ability to manage a CDRC approach by an approved provider; and
• are willing to participate in the initiative’s evaluation.

NB: Under the NRCP Guidelines, there are other eligible target groups, such as:

• younger people (under 65, under 50 if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) with moderate, severe or profound disabilities who are living at home; and
• people with a terminal illness in need of palliative care.

For these target groups, the Department would, in the first instance, encourage Centres to source alternate services for those carers. CDRC packages may be used for these groups where carers of frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 years and over if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have not been identified.

3.4 Acceptance by CRCC

It is at the discretion of the Centre as to which carers they choose to receive a CDRC package, taking into consideration the eligibility criteria outlined above.

Once a person is assessed as eligible for a CDRC package, the prospective carer may be offered a package. The final decision to accept a person for a CDRC package remains with the participating Centre.

The result of an assessment, and the decision to approve or not approve the carer to receive a CDRC package, must be provided in writing.

3.5 Individual Respite Plans

The participating Centre and carer should develop a respite plan, which details the services needed and who will provide them. Carers should not be limited to choosing services from the Centre – alternative options could include informal services and other commercial organisations.

The model allows each carer that receives a CDRC package to 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.

Carers should be provided with options to withdraw from a CDRC package at any time, if they decide a consumer directed approach is not for them. These options should be discussed and clearly explained to the CDRC participant.
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3.6 Development of Individual Respite Budgets

The participating Centre should assess the needs of the carer and help develop a budget for the carer based on those needs. Carers with the same or similar needs should receive comparable allocations of budgets and services by each Centre. Development of budgets should operate within the legislative constraints of the NRCP Guidelines and the CRCC Operational Manual.

Funds for an individual’s allocated budget will be drawn from the Centres income, which is obtained from government funding.

Centres must provide the carer with a monthly account balance, listing yearly expenditure to date and funds remaining.

Pooling of funds is allowed in CDRC to allow organisations to provide more services to a carer with greater needs only if another carer on a CDRC package has indicated that they will not require the whole CDRC budget. Pooling of funds should not occur to the detriment of any carer, whereby your organisation is unable to adequately support any one carer for each of the allocated CDRC places.

Where a carer in receipt of a CDRC package decides to exit a package or no longer requires that package and the CDRC funds may not be expended, a Centre is able to use any remaining amount for another potential client. The Centre should devise a respite care plan that utilises the remaining funding amount only. However, Centres should not pool all ‘left over’ funding from an exited CDRC place to provide care to another carer at the expense of the other CDRC packages.

3.7 Administration

The participating Centre should administer the budget on behalf of the carer. Administration includes duties such as paying invoices, scheduling respite appointments with providers, and sending the career a monthly balance statement. Participating Centres will be provided an amount of funding for this service.

3.8 Service Types Supported

Under CDRC, the same respite service types that are currently available under the Centres and the NRCP program will be available.

Carers participating in the CDRC initiative are able to elect to utilise services from any of the Centres respite services. For example, a CDRC participant may elect to use a care worker from the organisations NRCP service.

Participating carers are also able to elect to utilise respite services from other organisations if they wish. It is the role of the Centre to organise subcontracting arrangements with these organisations. The Centre is responsible for organising the subcontracted respite services on the carers’ behalf.

The Centre will need to develop a Service Agreement with the organisations, outlining which services are to be provided. Further information on subcontracting arrangements are outlined in the Funding Agreement.

3.9 Service Delivery

While the nature of the respite services will vary depending on the carer’s individual situation, Centres should be able to:

• explore more effective ways of empowering carers by allowing them – to the extent they are capable and wish to do so – to actively choose the respite services they receive; and
• decide who delivers the respite care and when.

Each package of services should be designed to meet the individual’s specific needs and take into account the particular circumstances of each carer.

NB: CDRC is primarily designed to provide planned respite episodes for the carer with a focus on direct respite services, while some indirect respite services can also be accessed.

CDRC funding is directed at the provision of respite care, rather than the provision of general domestic or household goods.

While aids and equipment can be included in a CDRC care plan as an indirect respite service, the aid or equipment must be directly related to the performance of the caring role. Aids or equipment being included as part of a CDRC care plan need to be assessed by an Occupational Therapist, Doctor, Physiotherapist or related health professional as contributing to the carer being able to maintain their part of the caring role and will need to be justified in the care plan.

Centres need to make their own decision concerning the appropriate split of direct and indirect respite services to be included in a CDRC package care plan. This must be made clear to the carer, keeping in mind the above mentioned advice.
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Range of formal and informal services available through a CDRC package

Formal Services

A CDRC package may include any of the following:

• in home respite;
• day centre respite;
• host families;
• residential overnight cottages;
• support workers to assist you when you are taking a break away from home; and
• residential respite care.

While it is not stated that a carer in receipt of a CDRC package cannot access other services, it would be expected that a client would be receiving services through a CDRC package and not through another service, to avoid double dipping.

However, emergency respite may still be required in addition to this respite plan/package and should be provided in emergency situations regardless of whether the individual budget has financial capacity. There is no additional CDRC funding available to cover additional respite services. This must be accessed through the CRCC as per normal arrangements.

Informal Services

Informal services are those that may be provided by services already known to the carer and/or not currently employed by the approved provider. Informal services may include:

• paying a taxi for transport to medical appointments or shopping;
• deliveries from the local store; and
• other private services suitable to meeting the carer’s assessed need.

For informal services, the same existing arrangements will apply in regard to worker’s compensation, police checks, insurances, superannuation, etc. Where applicable, Centres will need to seek their own advice from their own advisers (e.g. worker’s compensation authorities, insurers, legal advisers, accountants) as to how those requirements apply to their particular circumstances.

The Department does not encourage carers to pay family and friends for services as part of this model. The CDC informal and formal support services should be designed to complement and supplement the assistance and support provided by family/carers, friends, social and community networks.

3.10 Maintaining Links and Partnerships

The provision of quality care and support to carers in receipt of a CDRC package will require partnership with a range of services and individuals such as:

• respite services;
• informal support networks;
• other Centres and NRCP services; and
• residential respite providers.

These groups need to work effectively together by:

• case conferencing and case management;
• ongoing review, monitoring and adaptation of strategies according to changing needs, conditions and circumstances; and
• up-skilling of care workers and case managers by liaising and engaging the support of other health services, allied health and specialists.

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3.11 Case Study 1 – how the model might work

Mrs Brown is a 74 year old carer of her 80 year old husband, who has dementia. She does her best to ensure that her husband’s needs are taken care of, which includes care and services through an EACHD package. Although the EACHD package provides care and services to her husband, Mrs Brown finds it difficult to manage and at times finds it very hard to cope as a carer. At times Mrs Brown needs to rely on some emergency respite to help her manage the role of a full time carer.

Mrs Brown is also a very social and independent women, who likes to manage her own affairs, and would like to be able to continue to do so with some support. At times Mrs Brown is in needs of respite to attend a social event, deal with business matters or travel for family reasons and this is not always possible when she is caring for her husband.

The local CRCC has an allocation of CDRC packages, which would suit Mrs Brown’s needs, as she is capable of designing a respite plan that would suit those needs. This would ensure Mrs Brown is able to continue to care for her husband. The local CRCC conducts an assessment of Mrs Brown and deemed her suitable for a CDRC package, offers Mrs Brown a package and together devise a respite care plan. It is decided that Mrs Brown would benefit from planned respite episodes, whereby on set dates and times a care worker will come into the home to care for her husband while Mrs Brown is out, or planned residential respite overnight stays, so that she can attend social events and travel to visit family.

Mrs Brown has decided to use some of her CDRC packages for taxi vouchers to get her to and from her social events as required.

Mrs Brown has also elected to withhold some of the funds for emergency respite, for times when she feels she is not coping at home.

Mrs Brown’s respite budget is outlined below.

Service Type	Level of Service (per year)	Estimated Cost
Planned residential respite (high level care)	12 days	$1,245.72
In-home respite care	Once a fortnight for 3 hours	$2,340
Taxi vouchers	10 trips at $25 per trip)	$250
Emergency respite	As needed	$364.28
Total per year		$4,200

3.12 Case Study 2 – how the model might work

Mr Green is a 70 year old carer of his 72 year old partner, who has had a stroke. Whilst Mr Green’s partner is able to complete many of his daily tasks, he has trouble with fine motor skills and needs to have his meals prepared for him, help to shower and get dressed. Mr Green is able to manage these tasks without any support most of the time, but will sometimes rely on neighbours and family to help when Mr Green himself is unable to be there for his partner. Mr Green has utilised respite services in the past, when they are affordable.

Mr Green likes to attend the Bowling Club on the weekends to remain social in his community. The Bowling Club travels on a quarterly basis to compete in the country. Mr Green would like to attend these trips. He would also like some time off from his caring role to visit family interstate for a few weeks. However, Mr Green does not have the funds to be able to both attend the Bowling Club trips and also to afford respite services for his partner while he is away.

The allocation of a CDRC package would enable Mr Green to attend his social club, visit his family and have peace of mind that his partner will be safe and cared for. Mr Green was assessed as eligible for a CDRC package, and has been accepted onto a package. Mr Green has designed a respite budget which suits his needs and utilises the respite services which he has grown to trust, and whose staff are associated with the Bowling Club and know Mr Green and his partner personally.

Mr Green would like to utilise planned Residential Respite, where his partner can stay when he is on a Bowling trip or visiting family. Mr Green would also like to use his package for in-home respite at planned intervals to attend events, to go shopping and to meet friends for extended periods, without needing to worry about his partner. Mr Green would also like to utilise his CDRC package to provide excursions and day trips for his partner, so that he is not stuck in the house all the time, and can also enjoy his friends and be engaged with the community. This would also give Mr Green an opportunity to have some time at home alone.

Mr Green has decided to use the remaining funds for emergency respite for both himself and his partner, for those times when they are not coping at home, and would benefit from a break. Mr Green’s respite budget is outlined below.

Service Type	Level of Service (per year)	Estimated Cost
Planned residential respite (high level care)	16 days	$1,660.96
In-home respite care	Once a fortnight for 2 hours	$1,560.00
Out of home respite for partner	Once a month for 2 hours	$720.00
Emergency respite	As needed	$259.04
Total per year		$4,200

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4 Glossary

Term	Interpretation
Care recipient	A person assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team as having significant care needs which can be appropriately met through the provision of community care and/or flexible care.
Carer	A family member, friend or neighbour, who provides regular and sustained care and assistance to a dependent family member or friend without payment for their caring role (a pension or benefit is not considered to be payment for the caring role). The assistance has to be ongoing, or likely to be ongoing, for at least six months and be provided for ‘everyday types of activities’. A care service provided by paid workers, or care provided by volunteers arranged by a formal service is not a ‘carer’ for the purpose of the NRCP.
Case management	Refers to assistance received by a carer with complex needs from a specific worker who is formally responsible for managing the assessment, planning, coordination, monitoring and reviewing of the delivery of community care services and supports across a range of agencies. Centres are not expected to undertake case management; however they may use their brokerage funds to fund a case manager where appropriate.
CDC	Consumer Directed Care.
CDRC	Consumer Directed Respite Care.
Centre	Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre.
Cottage respite	Refers to community based cottage-style respite for overnight or short stays.
CRCC	Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre.
Department	Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Direct respite services	Agencies which are paid to provide respite care (defined below).
Emergency respite	Immediate, time-limited break for carers who are unable to provide care due to an unforeseen crisis.
GP	General Practitioner.
GST	Goods and Services Tax.
Indirect respite care services	Services that provide the carer with assistance which relieves the carer of tasks other than the caring role, eg. provision of shopping or cleaning services, home modification, counselling, education and training. Indirect respite has a ‘respite effect’ by relieving the carer of some daily tasks; by meeting some of these needs , indirect respite assists the carer to continue in the caring role.
NRCP	National Respite for Carers Program.
OH&S	Occupational Health and Safety.
Planned respite	Refers to scheduling respite in advance to allow the carer to arrange their breaks on predetermined dates. This planned respite could be one-off or regular.
Primary carer	The person who provides the most informal assistance to a person who needs care. While it is recognised that family and/ or friends may share the care of a person who is aged or has a disability, one person must be identified as the primary carer for the purpose of data collection.
Respite care	Care given as an alternate care arrangement with the primary purpose of giving the carer or care recipient a short term break from their usual care arrangement.
Respite plan	A plan that identifies the needs of and proposed support for the carer including: the carer’s respite needs support needs and options for the person who is cared for proposed respite and carer support services family and community support available emergency arrangements including where care could be provided and contact details of family and others.
Secretary	Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

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