Residential Respite Service

Service Description
It provides family members/carers of people with disabilities a planned short break so that they may attend to their personal business such as undergoing a medical operation or taking a vacation tour.  Its purpose is to make life for those involved in routine care for people with disabilities less stressful and more stimulating.  This service has been extended to serve children with disabilities aged from 6 to 15 since April 2008.

Eligibility for the Service To be eligible for the service, an applicant should be:
	people with mental or physical handicap;
	aged 15 or above; (individual service units will also admit children with disabilities aged from 6 to 15)
	physically and mentally suitable for communal living and not suffering from behavioural problem or contagious disease; and
	in need of a certain level of personal / nursing care not beyond the level provided by the particular type of residential service.

Service Period
	Subject to the vacancies available in individual service units, the service period should be no more than 14 consecutive days in general;
	service can be utilized repeatedly;
	the service units concerned may have the discretion to extend the service period in exceptional cases.

Application Procedures
	Application can be made by parents/carers themselves directly or via social workers of medical social services units, integrated family services centres, special schools or rehabilitation service units to the homes or hostels operating the residential respite service:
	Applicants should complete a Declaration Form on Health Conditions for Admission to Residential Respite Service and the service unit may further request for medical examination if necessary.

Fees and Charges
Service charges are calculated on a daily basis depending on the type of hostel / home concerned / number of day(s) used and the subvention levels of the service. The general fee charging rates of the service are:

Note 1: With the prior approval from the Social Welfare Department, individual service units may charge higher rates under individual circumstances. 

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