Types of Care

Respite Care: Short Breaks for Family Caregivers

What Is Respite Care, and How Can a Family Caregiver Get It?

Respite care is short-term care for an older adult so the family caregiver can rest, work, travel or handle an emergency. It can last a few hours or several weeks and happen at home, at an adult day center or in a facility. Your local Area Agency on Aging runs the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which funds respite; Medicaid, the VA and Medicare's hospice benefit (up to 5 days at a time) can also pay.

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Caring for a parent or spouse is often a full-time job layered on top of another one. Respite care is the break that keeps it going. Someone else steps in for a few hours, a day or a couple of weeks, so you can sleep, see a doctor, go to work, take a trip or simply breathe.

ACL’s LongTermCare.gov says about 80 percent of care at home comes from unpaid caregivers, who spend about 20 hours a week on it on average. Respite exists because that load wears people down. This guide explains the kinds of respite, who pays, and how to find it in your parent’s state.

What Respite Care Is

The National Institute on Aging defines respite care as short-term relief for primary caregivers, giving them time to rest, travel or spend time with family and friends. It can last from a few hours to several weeks. ACL adds that respite can be planned ahead or used in an emergency, such as when the caregiver is hospitalized.

Respite isn’t a separate kind of care so much as a purpose. The same aide, day program or nursing home bed that provides long-term care can provide respite when the goal is to give the regular caregiver time off.

Types of Respite Care

Type Where it happens Works well for Typical payers
In-home respite Your parent’s home Regular breaks of a few hours; parents who do best in familiar places Family Caregiver Support Program, Medicaid, VA, private pay
Adult day programs A day center Weekday breaks for working caregivers; social time for your parent Medicaid, VA, PACE, state programs, private pay
Short facility stays Assisted living, nursing home or hospice facility Overnight breaks, travel, caregiver surgery Medicare hospice (inpatient respite), VA, Medicaid in some states, private pay
Informal respite Home Short, regular breaks Free when family, friends or volunteers step in

In-Home Respite Care

In-home respite brings an aide, companion or volunteer to your parent’s home while you’re away. It’s often the easiest place to start, especially for a parent living with dementia who may be unsettled by new surroundings. NIA notes that respite from a friend, relative or volunteer may cost nothing, while professional services charge by the hour or by the day. The in-home care guide explains how to find and screen aides.

Adult Day Programs

An adult day center gives you a predictable block of time on weekdays while your parent spends the day with others, with meals and activities. NIA lists adult day centers as a common respite setting, and VA says its Adult Day Health Care can provide respite for family caregivers. See the adult day care guide.

Short Stays in a Facility

For a longer break, your parent can stay a few days or weeks in an assisted living community or nursing home that accepts short stays. If your parent is on hospice, Medicare covers short inpatient respite stays (see below). Use the nursing home finder to check CMS ratings for any nursing home you consider. CMS rates 2,981 nursing homes 5 stars overall (data from August 2026).

Who Pays for Respite Care

The National Family Caregiver Support Program

This is the main federal program for family caregivers. ACL says it was established in 2000 and gives grants to states and territories, which fund services through local Area Agencies on Aging. It serves family members and other unpaid caregivers of adults 60 and older, caregivers of people of any age living with Alzheimer’s disease, and relatives 55 and older raising children or caring for adults with disabilities.

The program provides five kinds of help:

  • information about available services;
  • help getting access to those services;
  • individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training;
  • respite care;
  • supplemental services on a limited basis.

In fiscal 2014, ACL reports, it served more than 700,000 caregivers, and respite alone provided nearly 6 million hours of relief. To apply, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 and ask for your parent’s Area Agency on Aging.

Lifespan Respite Programs

Congress created the Lifespan Respite Care Program in 2006 to build coordinated state respite systems for caregivers of people of any age or condition. ACL has awarded grants to agencies in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Grantees build respite databases, reach out to caregivers about services and, in some states, run voucher programs that let families choose their own respite provider.

Medicare Hospice Respite

Medicare doesn’t pay for respite care in general, but its hospice benefit does. If your parent is on hospice and you need rest, the hospice provider can arrange inpatient respite in a Medicare-approved facility, such as a hospice inpatient facility, hospital or nursing home. Medicare’s hospice booklet says each stay can last up to 5 days, and respite can be used more than once, but only occasionally. Your parent pays 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for the respite stay. The hospice care guide explains the full benefit.

Medicaid

NIA says Medicaid may help pay for respite. Ask whether your parent’s state includes respite in its home and community-based services, which Medicaid.gov describes as care delivered at home or in the community rather than in institutions. The Medicaid waivers guide explains how to apply, and the Medicaid long-term care checker shows the 2026 financial rules in your parent’s state.

VA Respite Care

VA pays for short-term care when a Veteran’s family caregiver needs a break, needs to run errands or wants to go out of town. VA provides respite through a home health aide at home, an adult day health program, or a stay in a VA Community Living Center or community nursing home. Enrolled Veterans qualify if they need help with daily activities and meet clinical criteria, and a copay may apply. See the VA long-term care guide.

Insurance and Private Pay

NIA says most private health insurance doesn’t cover respite, though some long-term care insurance policies do. Check the long-term care insurance guide and your parent’s policy. Otherwise, families pay providers directly.

State Respite and Caregiver Programs

The Family Caregiver Support Program reaches families through each state’s aging network, and several states add respite funds of their own. A few examples:

Your parent’s state page names the caregiver program there. NIA also points to the ARCH National Respite Locator Service, which lists state programs, adult day centers and services for Veterans.

Respite When Your Parent Is Living With Dementia

Caregivers of a person living with dementia often need respite the most and find it hardest to arrange. The National Family Caregiver Support Program explicitly covers caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease at any age, so a younger spouse qualifies too. Several states, including Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin, run respite or caregiver programs aimed at dementia in particular.

A few things help the break go well:

  • Keep the setting familiar when you can. In-home respite avoids a change of place, which can be upsetting.
  • Keep the same helper. A regular aide or volunteer becomes a familiar face over time.
  • Ask about dementia experience. For adult day or a short stay, ask how staff are trained and how they handle wandering or distress.
  • Plan the handoff. Share your parent’s routines, cues and calming strategies in writing.

The dementia care options guide explains how respite fits alongside other care as needs change.

How to Plan a Respite Break

  1. Decide what kind of break you need. A weekly afternoon calls for in-home help or adult day; a week away calls for a facility stay or a relative moving in.
  2. Call the Area Agency on Aging. Ask about the Family Caregiver Support Program, Lifespan Respite and any waiting periods.
  3. Check other benefits. Ask whether your parent qualifies for Medicaid home care, VA respite or hospice.
  4. Visit the provider first. For a short stay, tour the facility and ask whether it takes respite residents.
  5. Write a care sheet. List medicines, routines, foods, what calms your parent and who to call.
  6. Try a short break first. A few hours before a few days helps your parent adjust.

NIA also suggests ways relatives can share the load: offer to stay with your parent one afternoon a week, arrange a volunteer or adult day program, or travel in for a few days so the main caregiver can take a vacation.

When You Need More Than a Break

Respite helps, but it may not be enough if caregiving has become unsafe for you or your parent. If you’re exhausted most days, if your own health is slipping, or if your parent needs care around the clock, it may be time to look at more help at home, assisted living or a nursing home. The Care Options Guide can help you compare.

If you feel overwhelmed or hopeless, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time. It’s there for caregivers too. The caregiver support programs guide covers counseling, support groups and training that can make the day-to-day lighter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can Respite Care Last?

Anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, according to the National Institute on Aging. Program rules set the limits: Medicare's hospice benefit allows inpatient respite stays of up to 5 days each time, used occasionally, and state and VA programs set their own caps.

Does Medicaid Pay for Respite Care?

It can. The National Institute on Aging says Medicaid may provide payment assistance for respite, and states decide which services their home and community-based programs include. Ask the state Medicaid agency or your Area Agency on Aging whether your parent's program covers it.

Can I Use Respite Care Before I Reach a Breaking Point?

Yes, and planning it ahead usually works better. ACL notes that respite can be planned or used in an emergency. Booking regular breaks, such as one afternoon a week or a weekend every few months, keeps caregiving sustainable rather than waiting for a crisis.

Is In-Home Respite Care Different From Regular Home Care?

The services can be the same: an aide stays with your parent and helps with daily needs. What makes it respite is the purpose, which is giving the regular caregiver time off. Some programs pay only for respite hours, so ask how the hours are counted. The in-home care guide covers longer-term help.

Who Can Help if Caregiving Feels Like Too Much Right Now?

If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time. For practical help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging. The caregiver support programs guide lists other free help.

Does Private Health Insurance Cover Respite Care?

Usually not. The National Institute on Aging says most private health insurance plans don't cover respite care, though some long-term care insurance policies do. You pay any costs that insurance or government programs don't cover.

More on Types of Care

This guide explains long-term care in plain language from official sources. It isn't medical, legal or financial advice; a doctor, your state Medicaid agency or an elder law attorney can advise on your situation.

Sources

  1. National Institute on Aging: What Is Respite Care?
  2. ACL: National Family Caregiver Support Program
  3. ACL: Lifespan Respite Care Program
  4. Medicare Hospice Benefits (CMS Product No. 02154, March 2026)
  5. Medicare.gov: Hospice care
  6. VA: Respite Care
  7. VA: Adult Day Health Care
  8. Medicaid.gov: Home and Community Based Services
  9. LongTermCare.gov (ACL): Who will provide your care?

If someone is in danger now, call 911. To report suspected abuse or neglect in a nursing home or assisted living, contact your state's Long-Term Care Ombudsman or Adult Protective Services. For free help finding local aging services, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. seniorcare.help is an independent guide, not a care provider or referral service, and doesn't give medical or legal advice.