What is respite care?

Posted: November 11, 2015, 11:48AM

Respite care gives caregivers "time out". Respite may be provided in the home setting with in home non-medical assistance or with friends and family. Respite may be provided from an Adult Day Service program. Respite may also be provided in a facility setting.

What is your support system? Do you have relatives or friends that can stay with your care partner so you can get away to recharge? Do you need to hire someone? In home non-medical assistance offers supervision, personal care assistance and light housekeeping most often at an hourly rate.

Adult Day Services are offered in a community setting, and offer socialization, meals and supervision. Some programs offer transporation, others do not. Adult Day Service programs may or may not be available in your area.

Respite provided in a facility is often offered at the daily rate for the particular facility which can have a broad cost range. (It is imperative that caregivers work with the facility to assure the availability of a bed, as most respite in facilities is offered contingent on bed availability.)