Respite care provides a safe and comfortable environment for your loved one as an alternative to the care you normally provide. You may plan respite care so you can tend to other tasks or simply rest. Or you may seek emergency respite care when you encounter a sudden challenge. Respite care has many benefits for you and the person you care for.
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Respite care is a short-term service that allows you to take a break from your usual routine of daily care as a primary caregiver. The break may last for a few hours or several days or weeks.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
During this time, someone else — typically a trained professional — takes on your caregiving duties. This might involve helping with medications, fixing meals or simply providing companionship. Respite care helps people who are caring for adults and children of all ages, including those with medical needs. For example, you may choose to use respite care if you’re caring for a loved one who has:
You can plan respite care in advance or access it on an emergency basis. Planned respite care can help you manage a busy schedule or prevent caregiver burnout. For example, you may plan respite care in regular intervals, such as daily or weekly, if you need time to go to work or tend to others’ needs. Emergency respite care can help when life presents you with a sudden challenge (like a health issue) that keeps you from caring for your loved one.
Respite care can help you juggle many responsibilities while still making sure your loved one receives the care they need. But it’s also a way to restore your energy, do something relaxing or simply have some alone time.
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Caregivers often feel guilty taking a break when it doesn’t seem absolutely necessary. But research shows that breaks from regular caregiving are, in fact, necessary (even if you don’t have anything else on your calendar). Having some time to yourself helps you avoid caregiver burnout. This state of exhaustion can affect any caregiver no matter their level of dedication or determination. Respite care helps caregivers provide better care by improving focus, energy and motivation.
You’re likely used to working around the clock to care for someone who relies on you. You may resist people who tell you to “Take a break” and shrug off your exhaustion with an “I’m fine.” That’s often because you value the caregiving you provide, and love the person you’re caring for. But it might also be because you’re nervous about letting someone else step into your shoes.
Choosing respite care that meets your loved one’s needs can help you relax and feel confident they’re getting quality care, even if you aren’t there. You may even learn some new tips and tricks from the respite caregivers to improve your care for your loved one. Learning more about respite care, including where it happens and who provides it, can give you peace of mind that you’re making the right choice.
You can arrange respite care in many different places depending on your loved one’s needs. Examples of respite care settings include:
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It depends on where your loved one receives care and how you arrange it. Providers of respite care can include:
State and local regulations decide the training required for respite care providers in many settings. In general, the amount of training or experience your respite care provider should have depends on your loved one’s needs. The more specialized their medical needs, the more training their care provider should have.
It’s important to learn about the qualifications and training of anyone who will care for your loved one.
If you’re hiring a home health aide through an agency or exploring day centers, consider asking the administrator:
If you’re selecting a day center or other facility, make sure you tour the location at least once. While there, take notes on:
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If you’re hiring someone independently to come to your home, start with a phone screening and then meet in person for an interview. Consider asking about:
After the interview, be sure to:
Respite care involves a wide range of activities and support services tailored to your loved one’s age, needs and preferences. Different locations offer different services. By definition, respite care offers you (the caregiver) a break from your usual duties. But beyond shifting duties to someone else, respite care offers many services to the person receiving care. So, when you plan respite care, it can help to think about what your loved one needs most.
For example, are they lonely? Would they benefit from physical activity or activities that challenge their brain? Do they need help taking medications or staying on a certain schedule? Make a list of what you do for your loved one each day and why each task is important. This can help you decide the type of respite care that’s most appropriate, as well as where it should take place (in or outside the home).
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Depending on what you arrange, respite care may provide your loved one:
Planned respite allows you to try out a service in case you ever need it in an emergency. You’ll know you have a reliable source of care available. You can avoid scrambling to find a caregiver and quickly deciding if they’re a good fit. Emergency respite care helps you through a difficult situation you didn’t see coming.
Respite care has many other, specific benefits for both you and the person you care for.
Respite care can help you:
Respite care can help your loved one:
You’ll likely need to pay for respite care as an out-of-pocket expense. But you may be able to get some assistance from:
Medicare may cover part of the cost of respite care for people in hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, and for individuals receiving hospice care.
The ARCH National Respite Network provides resources for people to get help with covering the cost of respite care.
It’s a good idea to explore these resources and contact local, state and national agencies to learn your options. Access to funding assistance can vary widely depending on where you live and your loved one’s health insurance plan.
You may also find funding through organizations that support people with specific medical conditions (like Alzheimer’s disease or ALS). Reaching out to local chapters of such organizations is a good starting place to find out what forms of assistance are available and how to access them.
A limiting factor for many people is cost. Depending on available funding and your financial situation, you may be able to arrange respite care for several hours, days or weeks at a time. Find out what your loved one’s health insurance will cover. This will allow you to plan the amount of respite care you can afford.
You can find respite care in your area by searching the National Respite Locator Service. You can search by location, as well as look for respite care for specific populations, like veterans or children with special medical needs.
When you’re used to caring for someone, it can be hard to let someone else take the reins. This may be because you know your loved one best, including all of their medical needs and what makes them comfortable or content. Or maybe you’re afraid something will go wrong in your absence, and you’ll regret leaving them in someone else’s care. Whatever the reasons, it’s important to remember that no one is superhuman. No one can do it all, and no one expects you to.
Respite care can help you juggle multiple responsibilities while knowing your loved one is receiving the care they need. But you won’t be able to focus on other tasks or take time to relax if you’re worried about what’s happening in your absence. That’s why it’s important to do some homework before choosing respite care. Visit potential respite care facilities (ideally, on different days). Talk to the people in charge. Ask about training and qualifications of the care providers. The more you learn about the services provided, the more you’ll feel comfortable stepping back to accept help in caring for your loved one. It takes a village after all.
Last reviewed on 10/26/2023.
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