Respite Care Information

“The Disability Services Directorate (DSD) acknowledges the important role that primary carers/family/whanau have in caring for members of their family with disabilities. DSD funded and contracted respite services are part of a range of supports available to primary caregivers/family/whanau who care for family members with disabilities. The provision of respite services to support primary carers/family/whanau of people with disabilities can make it possible for them to live at home instead of being placed in permanent residential care. The respite care provided should be a positive, stimulating and meaningful experience for people with disabilities while providing their primary carers/family/whanau with temporary relief from care-giving.”

Out of family respite services are facility based and provide both planned and emergency (or crisis) respite care for primary carers/family/whanau who care for family members with disabilities. The duration of respite care is short term and intermittent or episodic.

Planned respite care is provided for specific periods as agreed with the primary carers/family/whanau and person with the disability.

Emergency respite care is provided in times of crises for example, when primary carers/family/whanau who care for the family members with disabilities are in urgent and immediate need of temporary relief from care-giving due, for example, to a family emergency, crisis or unforeseen event.

The allocation of respite care is determined by the Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) service.

Out of Family Respite Care Service Objectives:

· The provision of services to support primary carers/family/whanau of people with disabilities can make it possible for them to live at home instead of being placed in permanent residential care.

· To enable people with disabilities to enjoy a positive, meaningful and stimulating experiences that replicates the “out of family” experiences of people who do not have disabilities.

· The enable the primary carers/family/whanau of family members with disabilities to have temporary relief from care-giving

· To enable primary cares/family/whanau to care for family members with disabilities as independently as possible

· To enhance family relationships and stability