Aim Care services for older people are provided with the expectation of supporting carers in their caregiving role. The aim of the study is to investigate the association between the utilisation of care services by older people and the caregiving experience. Methods Cross‐sectional design, involving a cohort of family carers (n = 119) of frail older people (≥70 years) enrolled in a clinical trial of frailty treatment in metropolitan Sydney from 2008 to 2011. The caregiving experience is measured in five domains: health, daily schedule, finance, family support and self‐esteem (Caregiver Reaction Assessment tool). Results Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated an association between the utilisation of residential respite care and financial strain (β = −0.613, P = 0.049), after controlling for functional ability, co‐residence and age. Conclusion There is a need to consider carers' financial barriers and concerns in regards to the utilisation of respite care services.