Home / Step Down and Respite
Step down and respite care
Step down and respite care, overseen by Registered Nurses.
Leaving hospital before home is ready, or a carer who needs a break? We offer a private step down home to recover in, and respite care at home.
24 to 48 hoursOur reply to every referral, including hospital discharges.
Two ways we help
Recover safely. Rest properly.
Step down
A private home to recover in
When you are ready to leave hospital but home is not ready for you yet, stay in one of our private step down homes at Charmhaven or Blacksmiths Beach, with Registered Nurses visiting, until you can go home safely.
Respite
A break for carers
Planned respite at home gives family carers time to rest, while our team looks after your loved one. In an emergency, call us and we do our best to help quickly.
Back home
Care that continues
When you return home, the same team can carry on with nursing and home care, so nothing falls through the gaps.
Leaving hospital
Plan before the discharge date.
Call 02 9387 3030 as soon as a discharge date is set. We confirm within 24 to 48 hours and plan step down or home visits around the date.
Discharge planners can send the referral to referrals@abchs.com.au or use our online form.
Funding
How it is paid for.
We check your eligibility and confirm any cost to you in writing before care starts.
Veterans
Respite may be funded through Veterans’ Home Care for eligible veterans and war widows. We check yours with you.
Support at Home
Respite and short term restorative care can be funded through Support at Home, with contributions set by Services Australia.
Private
A written quote after your Registered Nurse assessment, before any care starts.
Step down and respite questions.
- What is step down care?
- Short term care after hospital for people who are well enough to leave but not ready to go home. You stay in one of our private step down homes at Charmhaven on the Central Coast or Blacksmiths Beach in Lake Macquarie, with Registered Nurses visiting, until you can go home safely.
- Where are your step down homes?
- At Charmhaven on the Central Coast and Blacksmiths Beach in Lake Macquarie. They are private homes, so we share the address only with clients and their families when a stay is booked.
- What kind of support can I expect after being discharged from hospital?
- A Registered Nurse assessment at home, then nursing such as wound care and medication management, help with personal care, and home help if needed, coordinated with your GP.
- What should I do after hospital discharge?
- Make sure you have your discharge summary and medication list, book a GP visit, and arrange nursing before you leave. Call us when the discharge date is set and we plan around it.
- How do I arrange respite care in NSW?
- Call us on 02 9387 3030. If you are a veteran we check Veterans’ Home Care respite, and if you have Support at Home we use your budget. Otherwise we quote privately.
- Is respite care free in NSW?
- Not always. It depends on your funding. Some veterans can access respite through DVA, and Support at Home funds respite with a contribution based on your means. We confirm any cost before care starts.
- How much does respite care cost per day or per week?
- It depends on the type of respite, the hours and your funding. We give you a written quote, or confirm your contribution, before any care begins.
- Can I switch to ABC Homes N Services for respite or home care?
- Yes. For Support at Home, your funding moves with you and there are no exit fees. We arrange the handover so your care does not stop.
Planning a discharge or a break?
Call 02 9387 3030, or GPs and hospitals can send referrals to referrals@abchs.com.au. We reply within 24 to 48 hours, and a Registered Nurse assesses every client at home before care begins.