What Is Respite Care?
Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Care can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center.
Respite care costs
Respite 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. 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.
Learn more about paying for care.
Finding respite care services
The ARCH National Respite Locator Service can help you find services in your community. In addition, the Well Spouse Association offers support to the wives, husbands, and partners of chronically ill or disabled people and has a nationwide listing of local support groups.
Sign up for caregiving tips from NIA
For more information about respite care
National Respite Locator Service
www.archrespite.org/respitelocator
Well Spouse Association
800-838-0879
info@wellspouse.org
www.wellspouse.org
Eldercare Locator
800-677-1116
eldercarelocator@n4a.org
https://eldercare.acl.gov
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
800-633-4227
877-486-2048 (TTY)
www.cms.gov
www.medicare.gov
This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.
Content reviewed:
May 01, 2017
