Respite Care
Melbourne

Respite care in Melbourne offers essential relief for caregivers, providing trusted support when you need time to rest, recover, or focus on personal matters. At our Care Communties, our experienced nurses and care team step in with expert assistance, ensuring your loved one continues to receive high-quality care in a safe, welcoming environment.

Whether you need a short break, are planning to attend a family event, or simply need time to recharge, our respite care services in Melbourne are designed with flexibility and compassion in mind. Your loved one will benefit not only from professional care, but also from meaningful social connection, daily activities, and an environment that encourages independence.

Whether you're considering permanent residential care or respite, our care communities in Melbourne and Victoria offer a range of aged care services tailored to individual needs. Find a Melbourne aged care location near you .

Respite is intended to provide short-term care to older Australians when their carer is away or unavailable, or for those who need a little extra care after a hospital stay. However, sometimes people take up respite in our Care Communities because they are not quite ready to commit to long-term care and want the opportunity to experience life in residential aged care before making a more permanent move.

Day respite is the option to enter residential aged care for a day (without an overnight stay). We offer day respite on a planned or ad-hoc basis in some of our Care Communities and may be possible multiple times a week, month or as needed. Day respite residents enjoy the full range of food, care and activity options as do our permanent residents. To find out if a Care Community you are interested in does Day Respite please fill out our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

In order to receive government-subsidised respite care, you need to have a face-to-face assessment with a qualified assessor to determine your care needs. This can be organised via the My Aged Care Regional Assessment Service. You can also apply for an assessment online or by calling 1800 200 422.

If you are eligible for respite care, you can access up to 63 days of subsidised respite care in a financial year in an Opal HealthCare Care Community where respite is available. You will only need to pay the Basic Daily Care Fee, which is set at 85% of the single age pension.

If you don’t qualify for subsidised care, you may have to pay for respite care yourself. This is called ‘self-funded’ respite and fees will vary between Care Communities.

Yes, you can enjoy respite care in any Opal Healthcare Care Community that has an availability and can meet your care needs.