- What is a respite or short-term stay?
- A short-term stay is a booked period living at Dayspring Gardens with the same care and meals a permanent resident receives — typically to give a family carer a break, to recover somewhere supported after a hospital admission, or to trial the home before making a permanent decision.
- How long can a short-term stay be?
- From a few days to a few months. A carer’s break or holiday cover is usually one to three weeks; recovery after surgery runs as long as the recovery does; a trial of a home wants at least two weeks, because the first few days of any stay are the unsettled ones and a longer stay shows the true picture.
- Can a short-term stay become permanent?
- Often, yes — a respite guest can usually transfer to a long-term room when one is available, and many families use a respite stay as a gentle trial for exactly that reason. There is no obligation either way; plenty of stays simply end with the person going home, as planned.
- What does the home need to know before a stay?
- A current medication list, a brief medical summary from the GP or hospital, emergency and family contact details, and the personal detail that makes care good: daily routines, food likes and dislikes, sleep habits, and hearing or memory notes.
- What should we pack?
- All medication in its original packaging with the prescription list, comfortable day clothes and nightwear for the length of the stay, toiletries, well-fitting non-slip footwear, glasses and hearing aids with spare batteries, phone and charger, and a few familiar comforts such as photographs or a favourite blanket.
- How much does a short-term stay cost, and how quickly can it start?
- Fees depend on the care needed and the room, so there is no single published rate. Availability changes week to week and short-notice placements are sometimes possible — phone +27 63 583 2543 with the dates and you will get a straight answer on both.