Respite Care

Respite care is short-term, planned care that gives family caregivers a break. It can be a few hours of in-home care during a workday, a daytime adult day program, or a one-to-four-week residential stay at an assisted-living community. Used regularly, respite is the single biggest factor in keeping a family caregiver sustainable.

Used in crisis ("I need a week off because I'm breaking down"), it works but is harder to arrange. Our respite-care coverage explains what types of respite exist, who pays (mostly out-of-pocket; VA covers some; some long-term-care insurance policies include a respite benefit), and the operational details of arranging a respite stay (yes, you can plan a one-week residential respite at almost any assisted-living community for a weekly daily rate).