About the program
The program supports carers and families caring for people living with dementia. It provides access to dementia-specific respite support services, and better training for health and aged care workers.
The program delivers:
- carer education and wellbeing
- innovative approaches to improving the quality and experience of respite care for people with dementia
- improved respite care planning for people with dementia
- increased capability of aged care providers to deliver quality respite care
Why it is important
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that there are at least 140,000 unpaid carers – family, friends, or community members – who support people living with dementia.
Supporting a family member or friend living with dementia can be rewarding, but it can also be emotionally, financially and physically challenging. The program supports carers who care for a person living with dementia at home. Through increased knowledge, skills and capability to provide care, it enables people with dementia to remain living at home and in the community for longer.
Goals
The program aims to:
- improve the quality and experience of respite care for people living with dementia and their carers
- reduce levels of carer burden and improve carer wellbeing
- improve care planning for people with dementia and their carers
- improve people’s transition between their home and place of respite.
Who we work with
We work with various organisations to deliver dementia-specific respite programs across all states and territories. This includes the delivery of:
- combined respite care, where both carers and people with dementia stay together
- innovative models that trial new approaches to dementia respite care and planning in different settings (including day, overnight, cottage and residential services).
For more information or to express interest in a program in your area, contact one of the following providers.
| Area | Provider | Program name |
| National (all states and territories) | HammondCare (through Dementia Support Australia) | Staying at Home |
| Australian Capital Territory | BaptistCare NSW and ACT | The Refresh Retreat Stronger Carers: Supporting and empowering carers to maintain wellbeing while caring for a loved one with dementia at home |
| Carers ACT | Caring Together and Staying at Home | |
| New South Wales | 3Bridges Community | Mindful dementia care |
| BaptistCare NSW and ACT | The Refresh Retreat | |
| Belong Blue Mountains | Carer and Dementia Support: Working together to improve wellbeing | |
| CASS Care | The CASS Respite Club House | |
| Group Homes Australia | Rementia Together | |
| HammondCare at Home | Staying at Home | |
| Northern Territory | Carers NT | Building Capacity for Quality Dementia Respite Care |
| Queensland | Anglicare Southern Queensland | Carer Group Peer Support and Respite Program |
| CatholicCare Central Queensland | Dementia Together | |
| Centacare Far North Queensland | Flexible Mix and Match Options for People Living with Dementia and their Families | |
| Clifton Community Health Service | Staying at Home with Dementia | |
| South Australia | Barunga Village Inc. | Staying at Home – Mid North and York Peninsula |
| Resthaven Incorporated | Staying at Home in Regional South Australia | |
| Uniting Communities Inc. | Staying at Home | |
| Southern Cross Care (SA, NT and Vic) | Extending independence through better respite care | |
| Tasmania | Australian Greek Welfare Society | Stronger Together – Mazi Pio Dinati |
| Victoria | Australian-Filipino Community Services | Maharlika Lodge Weekend Away Respite Care |
| Australian Greek Welfare Society | Stronger Together – Mazi Pio Dinati | |
| Australian Multicultural Community Services | Multicultural Dementia Friends Wellbeing Centre | |
| Caladenia Dementia Care | RESTED – Respite, Education, Support, Tailored Engagement for people living with Dementia and their carers | |
| Central Highlands Rural Health | Treehouse4Two | |
| National Ageing Research Institute | 3C Program | |
| Princes Court | Green Care Respite | |
| Western Australia | Amana Living | The Pause Program |
| BaptistCare NSW and ACT | The Refresh Retreat – A Staying at Home Program (WA) | |
| Brightwater Care Group | BrightRespite: Nurturing Wellbeing with Respite, Education, and Support for People with Dementia and Their Carers | |
| Southern Cross Care (WA) | Introduction to respite for people living with dementia and their carers |
Dementia respite care training
The University of Tasmania, supported by Dementia Support Australia, offers training to aged care workers to improve their understanding of the respite needs of people living with dementia and their carers.
The Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring (DREAM) project adopts a new, innovative and flexible approach to respite training, offering a Community of Practice and coaching to aged care providers.
Read more about the DREAM project.