The use of nursing homes and hostels for respite care

Objective: To examine the use of respite care in nursing homes and hostels and the destinations of respite residents on completion of their respite stay. Method: Administrative by-product data on admissions and separations from nursing homes and hostels are analysed to show the length and pattern of stay of respite residents. Results: The data show that utilisation rate of approved respite beds is relatively low: 69% for hostels in 1994-95 and 50% for nursing homes. This is in spite of government subsidies available for respite care. Many respite residents become permanent, residents. Thirty percent of hostel residents in 1992-93 and 42% of nursing home residents in 1993-94 became permanent residents after their first respite admission. Conclusion: The transfer from respite to permanency may be caused by changes in personal circumstances of respite residents and their carers after respite admission. But it may also indicate an inappropriate use of respite beds. The reasons behind the considerable proportion of residents moving to permanent care and the low level of use of respite beds are worth further study.