What is Respite Care?

Sometimes a [tag]caregiver[/tag] needs someone to take care of their loved one for a short time while they get a rest from caregiving. This is referred to as [tag]respite care[/tag]. During a period of [tag]respite[/tag] care, the loved one may receive care from many different types of organizations such as a nursing home, hospital, or hospice residential facility.

The cost of respite care can present a financial burden to many families. Community mental health centers often fund respite services if the individual meets certain criteria, including eligibility for Medicaid. Veteran’s ([tag]VA[/tag]) hospitals provide respite care at little or no charge if the individual receiving the care is a veteran (but not if the caregiver is a veteran). Private insurance companies rarely pay for respite care, and many providers do not accept this form of payment. Some [tag]respite facilities[/tag] have sliding-scale fees while other facilities operate as a co-op, where caregivers work at the facility in exchange for respite services.