Nobody can function in any role 24/7 without a break. Yet, that’s what some family caregivers 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 aging well 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 caregiver strain and burnout. 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 caregiving responsibilities and worries while a sibling steps in or an in-home caregiver 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 assisted living 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 adult day services, these programs offer assistance and supervision for older adults during the day. Adult social day care services often include respite care, meals, recreation and social activities and may include some health services. Similarly, adult day health care provides respite care and more intensive therapeutic, health and social services for older adults with serious medical conditions who otherwise might need nursing home care.
— In-home caregiving. In-home respite care brings professional caregivers such as certified nursing assistants or, when needed, a visiting nurse to provide care where the older adult lives. In-home services can include help with activities of daily living (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 assisted living communities to go on vacation or attend an out-of-town event, for instance. Meals, help with ADLs and a variety of social activities are all included.
— Informal family respite. Siblings 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 senior centers, 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 home health care provides certified nurse aides for short, Medicare-covered assignments under a doctor’s order, but they usually are not able to help much with ADLs.
[READ: How Much Does In-Home Care Cost & How to Pay for It]
Respite Care Costs
Respite care can be expensive. While rates vary by type of care and location, these are average costs, according to CareScout’s Cost of Care Survey:
Ross says the best way to check the cost of respite care near you is to contact a home health agency
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. 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 benefits through the VA 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 Program of Comprehensive Assistance to Family Caregivers.
— Medicare Advantage. Some Medicare Advantage 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 dementia, respite care will be available through the Medicare GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) program,” 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 Lifespan Respite Program and local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) directed by the National Family Caregiver Support Program. 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 Hilarity for Charity, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and even faith-based organizations, such as Lutheran Services in America.
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 National Respite Locator among myriad services for family caregivers.
— National Adult Day Services Association. The NADSA directory lets users find adult day services throughout the country.
— Eldercare Locator and call center. The interactive tool 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 Disability Information and Access Line.
— Alzheimer’s Association. For caregivers of a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, these are helpful respite-related resources.
— 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 respite care may be provided at the VA medical center, in a community facility or in the veteran’s home.
A geriatric care manager 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 assisted living facility. 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 pay for care. 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 in-home care may be a simpler possibility. As with most aspects of caregiving, there aren’t cut-and-dried answers or solutions.
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What Is Respite Care and Where Can I Find Respite Caregivers Near Me? originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 04/15/26: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
