Respite supports and services

A ‘respite option’ is any support or service that helps you to have a break from caring for a person with a disability.

Respite options can include:

asking friends and family to hang out with the disabled person you care for while you take a break
employing a support worker to spend time with the person with a disability
paying for the person with a disability to do an activity or programme that they enjoy
having an overnight break while the person with a disability stays with a friend, family member, support worker or an organisation with skills in caring for people with disabilities.

A Needs Assessment and Coordination Service or NASC can help you get funding for respite and find respite options that will work best for you.

The respite supports or services that are allocated by NASCs and funded by the Ministry include:

Carer Support
I Choose (flexible respite budgets)
Individualised Funding
Family Whānau Home Support (a ‘buddy’ or support worker for a few hours per week)
Facility-based respite (an overnight stay at a respite house or other facility).

Respite options in your community

There are a range of respite options available in each region. The downloads below contain information and contact details for some of the services available in your region. Information on respite options and other disability supports can also be found on the Firstport website.

You can choose the respite options that best suit your family. As well as these services you can choose to ask friends for family for help or use other supports or services.

Emergencies	Dial 111 (for ambulance, fire or police)
Healthline	Dial 0800 611 116
Poisons	Dial 0800 POISON (0800 764 766)
Mental health crisis	Emergency contact numbers