Respite care is a type of care that provides temporary relief for primary caregivers of elderly or disabled individuals. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks, and can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center. Respite care is essential to caregivers’ physical and mental health and to keeping families together.

Respite care can be provided by a variety of people, including family members, friends, or hired professionals. Some respite organizations offer additional services, such as homemaking, personal care, and medical care. Specialized camps that serve either adults or children with special needs have trained staff to provide medical care. Assisted living facilities may offer overnight stays where trained staff supervise your loved one. Some provide medical care. Nursing homes also may provide extended respite care.

Respite care services charge by the hour or by the number of days or weeks that services are provided. Most insurance plans do not cover these costs, and you must pay all costs not covered by insurance or other funding sources. Medicare will cover most of the cost of up to 5 days in a row of respite care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility for a person receiving hospice care. Medicaid also may offer assistance. Access to respite options is often limited, and waiting lists for waiver and state-funded programs can range from two to 12 years.

In summary, respite care is a temporary relief for primary caregivers of elderly or disabled individuals. It can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center, and can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Respite care can be provided by a variety of people, and some respite organizations offer additional services such as homemaking, personal care, and medical care. Respite care services charge by the hour or by the number of days or weeks that services are provided, and most insurance plans do not cover these costs.