Respite by Definition is Rest

The term "respite care" gets thrown around a lot, but as a caregiver do you really know what it is and what it means for you?

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Respite-Rest

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Respite care assumptions

Oftentimes, when "respite care" is mentioned, the following springs to mind:

Respite care reality

Respite care has been shown to improve caregivers' physical and emotional well-being, and caregivers report feeling refreshed and ready to re-engage in caring for their loved one following respite. However, the assumptions (above) that many people make about respite care are not reality.

Reframing how you think about respite

If respite care is so structured, even limited in fact, then how can you get it and how is it beneficial to you?

If you start to think about respite care as being any time you are relieved of caregiving responsibilities - whether one task or ten, whether for an hour or an overnight - then the available options for relief expand.

And who pays for respite?

Family, friends, and neighbors are free. Many of the benefits listed above are greatly or wholly covered by your loved one's insurance.

Regarding traditional respite care (complete care), however, it is most often paid for out of pocket, especially if you want respite care in the home.

That said, there are some plans, programs, and services (listed below) that may not completely cover the cost of respite care but can offset some of the cost. For more details on these payor sources, see our Guide: Sources for Respite Care Coverage.

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RESOURCES

ARCH National Respite Network

HelpGuide.org

Medicare.gov - Medicare Hospice Benefits

Montgomery, R.J. (1988). Respite care: Lessons from a controlled design study. Healthcare Financing Review, 1988 Annual Supplement, 133-138 (Link).

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). (2021, July). Compliance tools and resources: Respite tip sheet. Link

No content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Likewise, no content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct advice from a licensed insurance broker or other qualified plan-payer professional.

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