Nobody can function in any role 24/7 without a break. Yet, that’s what some do. Taking time away from the immense responsibility of caring for a loved one can seem like a luxury: hard to afford and nearly impossible to manage.
“Everyone deserves the dignity of in the place they call home,” says Diane Ty, the Washington, D.C.-based managing director for the Milken Institute Future of Aging.
But aging in place can come at the cost of . It’s critical for caregivers to take a brief respite for their own physical and mental health. Moreover, the care recipient benefits from having a better-rested, reinvigorated caregiver looking after them. See what short-term respite entails and how to find respite care.
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What Is Respite Care?
Respite care is any type of short-term relief for caregivers. While that definition sounds simple, respite care can take various forms:
— Taking a few short hours without and worries while a sibling steps in or an takes over
— Dropping a parent or spouse off for adult day services
— A long weekend away for caregivers during their loved one’s temporary stay at an facility
Any successful respite involves some planning and preparation to enjoy that period of comparative freedom and downtime.
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Respite Care Types
Respite care can take place in many settings, including:
— Adult day care centers. Also called , these programs offer assistance and supervision for older adults during the day. Adult social day care services often include respite care, meals, recreation and and may include some health services. Similarly, adult day health care provides respite care and more intensive therapeutic, health and social services for who otherwise might need .
— In-home caregiving. respite care brings professional caregivers such as certified nursing assistants or, when needed, a visiting nurse to provide care where the older adult lives. can include help with (ADLs), such as grooming, toileting and other needs, depending on the individual. This respite can encompass a few hours during the day or overnight stays.
— Assisted living stay. Family caregivers can arrange short-term stays in some to go on vacation or attend an out-of-town event, for instance. Meals, help with and a variety of social activities are all included.
— Informal family respite. or other relatives, friends and volunteers through community networks like CaringBridge let people pitch in to give the primary caregiver a break. There are other respite care resources like churches and , says Peter Ross, the co-founder and CEO of Senior Helpers, a Baltimore-based organization that facilitates nonclinical in-home care for seniors. “They are usually volunteers, so you need to be careful about who comes into your home,” he adds.
— Home health care. Ross explains that provides certified nurse aides for short, assignments under a doctor’s order, but they usually are not able to help much with ADLs.
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Respite Care Costs
Respite care can be expensive. While rates vary by type of care and location, these are average costs, according to :
Ross says the best way to check the cost of respite care near you is to contact a
in your area. A respite care provider will determine cost based on an assessment and work with you to create a respite care plan.
Who pays for respite care?
Before you feel the cost of respite care is too prohibitive, consider some of the following programs that are available to help you pay for respite care.
— Medicaid. state waivers may help you pay for respite services. Contact your state’s Medicaid office to learn more about how to access this benefit where you live.
— Department of Veterans Administration. As a veteran or dependent of a veteran, you may qualify to apply for to pay for respite care. “A home care agency should be able to help you through this process,” Ross explains. Ty suggests looking into the
— Medicare Advantage. Some plans may offer respite care or personal care services as a supplemental benefit. Contact a member services representative for your plan to learn more.
— Medicare. “For Medicare recipients, if your loved one has been diagnosed with any form of , respite care will be available through the ,” Ross says. Contact your provider or Medicare to see how you can request this $2,500 per year benefit. This program began in July 2024 and will continue for eight years.
— Vouchers and stipends. Many states provide respite vouchers and stipends. A few of these assistance programs include the and local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) directed by the . To find an AAA in your community, search “area agencies on aging + your state’s name.”
— Private companies. Private funding is available through grant programs administered by organizations like , the the and even faith-based organizations, such as .
How to Find Respite Care Near Me
These are good starting points for family caregivers seeking respite care and support:
— ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. Funded by the Administration for Community Living, ARCH offers the among myriad services for family caregivers.
— National Adult Day Services Association. The lets users find adult day services throughout the country.
— Eldercare Locator and call center. The connects caregivers and older adults to their AAA, which can direct users to local services, including respite care. You can also call 1-800-677-1116 to speak with an agency staff member.
— Disability services. To ask about services like respite for caregivers of younger people who have a disability such as a cognitive or mobility impairment, contact the .
— Alzheimer’s Association. For caregivers of a family member with or other dementia, these are helpful .
— Department of Veterans Affairs. VA medical centers can give a veteran’s caregiver a break by taking over that care for a limited time, for up to 30 days in a calendar year. This may be provided at the VA medical center, in a community facility or in the veteran’s home.
A can be a professional ally for family caregivers. Also referred to as aging life care experts, geriatric care managers work with older adults and their families to identify needs, make a care plan and find services in the community, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Advantages of Respite Care
Respite offers advantages to the person receiving and giving care.
— More present caregiving. Caregiver support and respite helps caregivers to feel more refreshed, provide more present caregiving and ultimately care longer, says Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, based in Washington, D.C. When a caregiver has a chance to take a breather, “it’s renewing on both sides,” she adds.
— Reduced caregiver burnout. With respite, family caregivers can make it to their own visits to the doctor, go to the grocery store or watch a child’s soccer game, Markwood says. Respite means “just making sure that their loved one is safe and secure so they can go off and do things that are important in their lives, but not worrying the whole time about the care their loved one is getting,” she points out.
— Change in scenery for the care recipient. In some cases, respite care might feel disruptive for the person receiving care, especially if they have dementia or a memory condition. But for others, the change of pace and sharing their story with a new caregiver is a welcome change in routine.
Respite Care Challenges
People may push back at being attended to by anyone other than their comforting family caregiver, at least at first. That reluctance can be heightened when respite involves a short stay in an . Challenges can include:
— Difficulty trusting a new caregiver. Consider your loved one’s cognitive status and understanding when arranging respite care. They may need days or even weeks of mental preparation for the anticipated schedule and care change. For individuals who don’t have full cognitive understanding, work preemptively with the respite caregiver to ensure a smooth transition. For example, if your loved one has a specific preference in their daily routine or a snack they like to take with their medications.
— Cost of care. Cost is a barrier for many individuals seeking respite care. Look into assistance programs to help . You can also compare quotes for multiple respite services before choosing.
— Finding a reputable respite care program. To ensure your loved one will be receiving high-quality care, have a discussion with your anticipated care team to discuss their qualifications and licensing. It’s also important to consider the religious, personal or cultural needs of your loved one when matching them to a respite service.
Hiring may be a simpler possibility. As with most aspects of caregiving, there aren’t cut-and-dried answers or solutions.
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Update 04/15/26: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
