Caregiving can be emotionally and physically draining. The ongoing demands of providing care for someone else can lead to caregiver burnout. It’s important for caregivers to ask for help and take breaks regularly, but what does that look like?
For many caregivers, respite care provides a short break, whether for a few hours to a few weeks. Keep reading to learn more about respite care and how it works.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is short-term care that can be provided at home, in a health care facility, or at an adult day care facility. It allows primary caregivers to take a break while ensuring that the person they’re caring for continues to receive quality care.
In some cases, family, friends, or volunteers may provide respite care. There are also programs that offer these services. This includes state-sponsored programs, adult day care, and services for veterans.
Respite care might be provided for free by a friend or family member. Professional respite services charge by the hour or number of days or weeks that services are provided. Medicare will cover most of the cost for up to five consecutive days of respite care in a hospital or skilled nursing setting. Medicaid may provide payment assistance.
Most private health insurance plans won’t cover respite care costs, but some long-term care plans have coverage. Check with your provider for specific details.
Asking For Help
It can be difficult to ask for and accept help from others, but it’s important to get a break and take care of yourself as a caregiver. If you have trouble asking for help, consider starting by asking for assistance with small things and building up to larger requests. When someone offers to help, thank them for offering and let them know what they can do. Whether it’s providing a meal or coming over for a regular visit so you can go to the gym, others are often looking for ways to help and unsure where they can provide the most value. Try keeping a list of small tasks others could help with so you have ideas at the ready.
The National Institute on Aging offers resources for learning more about respite care.
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