Respite Care
Respite Care Services
NovaCare supports carers with much needed respite services.
Our caring and qualified staff can come into your home for day, evening, overnight or emergency respite; or your loved one is a welcome guest at our privately owned Ailsa Craig Respite cottage.
Respite Options Available
What is Included in Respite Care?
Our comprehensive services can be provided in respite care. This includes:
- Day, overnight, emergency and planned respite
- Dementia expertise
- Community connection
- Carer support
- 24 hour care
- Allied health & wellness programs
Upon contacting us, we will ask if you have any special requirements that you would like us to accommodate. We’re here to help!
Who Can Access Respite Care
Our caring respite services are available to all homecare package holders and private paying adults, this includes Novacare’s existing clients as well as new applicants.
We offer multiple options to give people choice and control. For example, a person may want to try our respite care as a one-off before organising a regular respite schedule.
Individuals are welcome to contact us to start this service. We also partner with referring organisations across the Hunter, who may wish to access our respite services for their clients.
Carers can login to the Australian Government’s Carer Gateway to view financial support options or contact our office with any questions.
Should I Choose Respite at My Home or At Your Cottage?
In both respite options, NovaCare tries to make it a great experience for our clients.
Respite at your home
Some people are more comfortable staying in their own house.
For these people, it may be easier for our carers to visit them. Our carers can transport you to do the things you need, and return you to the place you find most familiar.
Ailsa Craig Cottage
Ailsa Craig Cottage is located in Hamilton, NSW.
It is a four bedroom architecturally enhanced building. It’s a lovely old style of home.
We accommodate upto 10 people during the day, and 4 people at night. There’s the opportunity for interactions with other guests. Both daytime and overnight (1 to 4 nights) options are available.
The cottage is suitable for people who may appreciate the company of others and enjoy a holiday-like experience.
You are welcome to visit the cottage before committing to anything. We’ll put the kettle on.
Contact NovaCare With Your Respite Enquiry
We would love to hear from you and see how we can assist you. Please note that:
- All people are welcome to apply
- You will speak with a kind, Australian staff member
- We are a registered, non for profit organisation
- Our care staff, nurses and Allied health professionals hold appropriate registrations
Whether you have a general enquiry about our services or something else, please contact our friendly team who are here to help guide and support you.
Respite Care FAQ
- What is the shortest and longest amount of time someone can access respite?
When we provide access in a person’s home, this can be as little as one hour.
When people are visiting Ailsa Craig cottage. The maximum is normally four nights consecutively. This can be negotiated if there are specific reasons this needs to change.
At times, a person’s funding can impact respite care. Our lovely administration team can support people to clarify, or possibly obtain additional funding, please contact us in this case.
- How long does respite care take to organise?
The more notice, the better. Normally, our services can be pre-planned within 2 weeks. However, sometimes that’s not possible.
NovaCare is able to provide respite care on very short (24 hr) or immediate notice. This most commonly arises when a carer may become sick, and is required to access healthcare themselves.
Please contact our office and we will guide you through the process, our phones are available 24/7.
- I have a complex situation (i.e. medical condition) - how do I know if NovaCare can meet my needs whilst in respite?
For people who wish to access respite care, we go through a comprehensive assessment with them to ensure that we can appropriately meet their needs.
This includes understanding requirements regarding medication, nutrition, preferences and other agendas.
- How does NovaCare take my preferences into account?
At NovaCare, one of our core values is “YOU”. We’re always looking for opportunities to do the things that are important to our respite clients. Some recent preferences we’ve achieved are:
- Visiting Lambton pool to watch the water polo for a client who loved the sport!
- Organising a drawing canvas and paint brushes so that a participant can spend a few hours drawing a masterpiece
People can either self-choose their activities, or sometimes our staff (once they get to know people) can help to come up with experiences to make people’s day.
We try to make respite as amazing as possible so people are excited to do it again!