Respite Care for Family Caregivers
Short-term coverage so family caregivers can take a break.
Most of the care given at home is given by family. Respite care is a planned break for that person: a nurse or aide takes over for an afternoon, a weekend or a week so the caregiver can see their own doctor, go to a wedding or simply sleep.
We match respite staff to the level of care involved. A parent caring for a child on a ventilator needs a nurse with trach and vent experience; a spouse caring for someone with mid-stage dementia may need an experienced aide who knows how to redirect without arguing. We schedule a short overlap visit beforehand so the patient meets the respite caregiver while family is still there.
Respite is often covered more than families expect. Medicaid waiver programs, the VA, and the National Family Caregiver Support Program through local Area Agencies on Aging all fund respite hours, and hospice patients have a Medicare respite benefit of up to five days in a facility.
What's included
- Nursing or aide coverage from four hours to seven days
- An overlap visit before the first respite shift
- Matching staff skill to the care involved
- Help finding waiver, VA and Area Agency on Aging funding
How it's paid for
Medicaid waivers, VA, Area Agency on Aging grants, long-term care insurance and private pay. See insurance and payment for details.