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Respite care
Respite is temporary care that exists so the permanent caregiver can stop — for an afternoon, a week, a surgery, a wedding, or just enough sleep to keep going. Families routinely don't take it because they don't know it exists, don't know who pays, or feel guilty. Here is the map for the first two; for the third, see the burnout numbers on caregiver survival.
The three shapes it comes in
- In-home respite — a paid aide (or trained volunteer, in some programs) comes to the house for hours or overnight. Market rate is in-home care's median $35/hour (2025 CareScout survey), but subsidized hours exist — see below.
- Adult day programs — the built-in weekday respite: covered fully here (median $95/day, 2025).
- Short-term residential respite — many assisted-living communities and nursing homes take short stays (a few days to a few weeks), often used for a caregiver's own surgery or travel. Priced around their daily rates (roughly $206/day at median assisted-living pricing).
Who pays
- Your Area Agency on Aging — the National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite vouchers and hours in every state (ACL — acl.gov); many states run additional Lifespan Respite programs. Ask literally: "what respite funding exists here?"
- Medicaid HCBS waivers — most state waivers cover respite for enrolled families; some let the family choose (even hire) the respite provider.
- The VA — enrolled veterans can receive respite — home-based, adult day, or up to 30 days per year of short-stay nursing-home respite (va.gov); the comprehensive caregiver program (PCAFC) guarantees its enrolled caregivers at least 30 days of respite yearly.
- Medicare — one specific case: for a person on hospice, Medicare covers inpatient respite up to 5 days at a time, repeatable occasionally, so the family can rest — the patient pays 5% (medicare.gov).
- Long-term-care insurance — most policies include a respite benefit; read the policy.
Finding actual providers: the ARCH National Respite Network runs the national respite locator at archrespite.org.
Where the public record stops — and who to ask
What respite funding and providers exist in your county, right now? That answer depends on your state and your situation, and it belongs to the people who decide it — not to us. Here is who has it, and exactly what to ask so you arrive prepared instead of lost.
Who to ask: your Area Agency on Aging (1-800-677-1116) — respite funding is literally part of its mandate; for veterans, the VA social worker on your person's care team
What to ask them:
- What respite funding does the caregiver-support program have here, and how do I apply?
- Does our state's Medicaid waiver cover respite, and can we choose the provider?
- Which local facilities take short respite stays, and what do they charge?
- Is there a dementia-specific respite program in this area?
You now know more than most people who walk into that office. That is the whole point of this page.
Who helps you locally — free, and on your side. You do not have to figure this out alone. Your Area Agency on Aging gives free options counseling; reach any of them through the federal Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov (Administration for Community Living). More on the four people who help — and what each one does — on Who helps me locally.
Quick answers
What is respite care and how much does it cost?
Respite care is temporary care that gives the primary family caregiver a break: in-home aides (market median $35/hour, 2025), adult day programs (median $95/day), or short stays in a facility (around facility daily rates, e.g. ~$206/day at median assisted-living pricing). Subsidized respite exists through Area Agencies on Aging, Medicaid waivers, and the VA — many families pay far less than market rate.
Does Medicare cover respite care?
Only in one specific situation: when a person is on hospice, Medicare covers up to 5 consecutive days of inpatient respite care at a time (patient pays 5%), repeatable on an occasional basis. Outside hospice, respite is funded instead by the National Family Caregiver Support Program via Area Agencies on Aging, Medicaid waivers, VA benefits (up to 30 days/year of nursing-home respite for enrolled veterans), or long-term-care insurance.
How do I find respite care near me?
Two doors: call your Area Agency on Aging via the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) and ask what respite funding and providers exist locally, and search the ARCH National Respite Network's locator at archrespite.org.