Respite care: how to get a break from caring for a parent
Caregivers who never get a break burn out. Respite care is planned, short-term care for your parent so you can rest, work, travel, or just have a day off.
Respite care is short-term care that gives the main caregiver a break, for a few hours up to a few weeks. It can be in-home help, an adult day program, or a short stay in a care facility. Find local options through the ARCH National Respite Locator or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116). Families usually pay privately, but Medicaid waivers, the VA, and Medicare’s hospice benefit can help in some cases.
Types of respite care
- In-home help: a paid aide, a volunteer, or another family member stays with your parent at home.
- Adult day programs: daytime care, meals, and activities in a group setting. The 2025 national median for adult day health care was $95 a day (CareScout).
- Short stays: a few days or weeks in an assisted living community or nursing home.
The National Institute on Aging notes that respite can last from a few hours to several weeks, and that private health insurance generally doesn’t cover it.
How to find respite care
- Search the ARCH National Respite Locator (archrespite.org).
- Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging.
- Ask your parent’s doctor, local senior center, or faith community about adult day programs and volunteer respite.
Who helps pay
- Medicare: if your parent is in hospice, Medicare covers most of the cost of up to five days in a row of inpatient respite care, according to the National Institute on Aging. Outside hospice, Medicare generally doesn’t pay for respite care.
- Medicaid: many state home and community-based programs include respite.
- VA: eligible veterans can get respite care for at least 30 days a year, at home, in an adult day health care center, or in a VA community living center. A copay may apply.
- State respite programs: the federal Lifespan Respite Care Program has funded respite programs in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
- Long-term care insurance: some policies cover respite. Check your parent’s policy.
Make the break real
Respite only works if things keep running while you’re away. Before you step back, put the week’s tasks, appointments, and medication schedule where the person covering can see them, and hand off specific jobs to siblings and friends instead of saying “call me if anything comes up.”
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules differ by state and change over time, so check the linked sources or talk to an elder law attorney or tax professional about your family’s situation.
Common questions
What is respite care for caregivers?
Respite care is short-term care for the person you look after, from a few hours to a few weeks, so the main caregiver can rest. It can be in-home help, an adult day program, or a short stay in a care facility.
Does Medicare pay for respite care?
Mainly for people in hospice. Medicare covers most of the cost of up to five consecutive days of inpatient respite care for hospice patients. Otherwise, Medicare generally doesn’t pay for respite.
How do I find respite care near me?
Search the ARCH National Respite Locator, or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging, which can point you to adult day programs, in-home help, and short-stay options.
Sources
- What Is Respite Care?, National Institute on Aging
- Cost of Care Survey 2025, CareScout
- National Respite Locator, ARCH National Respite Network
- Eldercare Locator, Administration for Community Living
- Respite Care, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Lifespan Respite Care Program, Administration for Community Living