What is Respite Care?
Sometimes a caregiver 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 respite care. During a period of respite 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 (VA) 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 respite facilities have sliding-scale fees while other facilities operate as a co-op, where caregivers work at the facility in exchange for respite services.
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