Respite Care Provides a Break From Caregiving Duties

You pour every ounce of your energy into caring for your loved one, but who is taking care of you? If you’re feeling the weight of constant responsibility, you’re not alone – and you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.

Local respite care services are the essential, often-overlooked lifeline that gives dedicated caregivers the chance to rest, recharge, and return as their best selves. Discovering these services isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical step toward creating a sustainable, healthy caregiving journey for everyone involved.

Respite Care Services Give Caregivers Longer Breaks

Caring for an older adult is an important and demanding job. But your own health and well-being are also important.

That’s why it’s necessary to take regular breaks. They help you sustain caregiving over the long term.

Respite care services support your older adult and give you the chance to take breaks. 

Respite care also helps you keep your older adult at home longer because you’re less likely to become overwhelmed by caregiver stress and burnout.

We explain what respite care is, why these services benefit you and your older adult, how much it costs, and programs that help pay for it, what’s covered by Medicare, and how to find respite care near you.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care is when family caregivers can take an extended break from caring for an older adult. 

These caregiving services can take place in the home or at an assisted living community, typically for less than a month.

Here, we focus on respite care services outside the home. Many assisted living communities and nursing care facilities offer short-term respite care. 

Seniors would move into a fully furnished room and have access to all regular services and amenities.

Every community offers different amenities, but they’ll usually have:

• Three meals a day
• Medication management
• Help with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming
• 24-hour supervision and security
• Laundry service & housekeeping
• Activities, outings, and transportation

Respite Services are Underutilized by Caregivers Today

Did you know that 85% of caregivers do not use formal respite services? That’s a incredible statistic to think about when you understand how prevalent caregiver burnout is among family (and professional) caregivers.

Why Use Respite Care Services?

There are many situations where respite care can provide much-needed help. 

Some examples:

• You’re getting completely burned out and desperately need a break from caregiving.
• You’re having a health crisis of your own and need some time to recover before resuming your caregiving duties.
• You need to travel to an important family event without your older adult.
• You’re going on a much-needed and well-deserved vacation.
• Your older adult is recovering from a hospital stay and needs a higher level of care before they can safely return home.
• You’re thinking about moving your older adult to a specific senior living community and want to test it out before making a final commitment.

In especially stressful situations, like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia care, regular respite breaks give you a chance to recharge your batteries. 

This helps you sustain caregiving over a long period of time (it really is a marathon).

VIDEO: Everything You Need to Know About Respite Care

How Much Does Respite Care Cost?

The cost of respite care will vary significantly depending on your location, the specific assisted living community or nursing home, and the level of care needed. 

According to Genworth’s Cost of Care survey, the national average daily cost is $148 for assisted living and $260 for nursing care. 

But don’t let those numbers scare you, costs vary significantly from city to city.

And care communities may also offer respite care at rates different from their standard rates as part of their marketing plans.

So don’t rule out any care communities that offer respite care before calling to ask about special prices or promotions.

There are also state programs that may cover the cost of respite care services. 

For a list of federal, state, and private funding sources that can help pay for respite, check out the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center’s article “How to Pay for Respite”.

Does Medicare Cover Respite Care?

No, respite care is not covered by Medicare. 

But one exception is if the respite care is part of a hospice program.

Under the Medicare hospice benefit, seniors can get respite care in an approved facility for up to five days at a time, and Medicare will pay 95% of the agreed amount.

Each hospice company is different, so first check with the hospice provider to confirm it’s covered under their program.

Also, some programs, like long-term care insurance policies, may cover some of the cost.

Find Respite Care Near You Using the ARCH National Respite Network

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center offers an online locator tool to help you find local respite services in the U.S. and Canada.

Visit the National Respite Locator Service and enter location information to find respite services near you. 

You can also enter details about your older adult to narrow search results.

However, if no results appear in your initial search, try entering only the state and distance.

Even though there may be minor issues like this one, this online locator tool is still invaluable because it makes it easy to get a list of local respite care services to call for more information.

Final Thoughts About Respite Care for Caregivers

Taking time for yourself through respite care isn’t an act of abandonment; it’s an act of profound wisdom and love. By stepping away briefly, you are preserving your well-being and ensuring you have the strength to provide compassionate care for the long haul.

You are your loved one’s most valuable resource, and protecting your health is just as crucial as managing theirs. Permit yourself to explore respite care—it’s the support you need and truly deserve.

Next Steps: Find respite care in your area with the ARCH National Respite Network Locator Service

 

Recommended for you:

• 6 Ways to Make It Easier for Caregivers to Take a Break
• 6 Reasons Dementia Caregivers Avoid Taking Breaks
• 10 Ways for Caregivers to Take a Quick Break