Respite care is a type of care that is provided to give temporary relief to the primary caregivers of someone who is chronically ill, disabled, or elderly. The goal of respite care is to provide a break for the primary caregiver, allowing them to rest, recharge, and attend to other responsibilities, while ensuring that the care recipient continues to receive the support they need.

Respite care can take many forms, depending on the needs of the care recipient and the availability of resources. It can be provided in the home, in a hospital, or in a specialized respite care facility.

Some examples of respite care services include:

In-home respite care: A trained care provider comes to the home to provide care and support to the care recipient while the primary caregiver is away.
Adult day care: The care recipient attends a program that provides socialization and activities during the day, while the primary caregiver is at work or otherwise unavailable.
Hospice respite care: Care is provided to the patient in a hospice setting, typically a hospice facility or hospital, while the primary caregiver takes a break.
Facility-based respite care: Care recipient is temporarily placed in a nursing home or other long-term care facility while the primary caregiver takes a break.
Respite care can be paid for through private funds, through Medicaid and other government programs, or through long-term care insurance. Some respite care providers also offer sliding-scale fees based on the patient’s ability to pay.