Respite care provides caregivers with much-needed support and a break from caregiving. Whether in-home or off-site, respite care can help prevent caregiver fatigue and burnout. Private and public insurance plans, including long-term care, Medicare, and Medicaid often cover some or all the cost of respite care. Veterans benefits can also be used by eligible families to pay for respite care. Experts recommend researching options to ensure you and your loved one have a few trusted caregivers in place when the time comes.
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Respite care is temporary care that’s provided in a person’s home, at an assisted living community, or at an adult day care center. Respite care can help prevent caregiver burnout, and enables primary caregivers to:
Brenda Gurung, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and founder of Be Growth Dementia Education, says respite care benefits both parties in a caregiving situation.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup, and respite care can be a gift to everyone involved,” Gurung explains. “It’s an opportunity for the family caregiver to rejuvenate and for a senior to spread their wings in a new setting of care, support, and empowerment.”
The cost of respite care depends on the type and amount of care your loved one needs, as well as your location, or care setting. Below are the approximate median costs for each type of respite care:
| Care setting | Cost per day |
|---|---|
| Adult day health care | $100 |
| Assisted living community | $173 |
| In-home care | $264 |
| Skilled nursing facility | $305 |
While most families pay for respite care using personal funds, private and public insurance programs can help.
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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Respite care may be provided in a person’s home or in the community, at an adult day care center, assisted living community, or a skilled nursing facility.
In-home respite care professionals are trained to help with basic activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, bathing, and toileting. Caregivers may also assist with running errands and transportation.
If your loved one prefers to stay at home and needs skilled nursing care, physical or occupational therapy, or another medical service such as injections or catheter care, consider a home health nurse. These professionals have more advanced medical training and are licensed to provide more complex care.
Some senior living communities offer short-term respite care, providing the same level of care and attention as they do to full-time residents. A short-term stay at an assisted living facility offers some benefits beyond in-home care:
Arranging for respite at an assisted living community requires a few more steps than planning for in-home respite.
Adult day care services can provide supervision, activities, personal care, and companionship. Although their hours are typically more limited than what’s available at a senior living community, adult day care can still be a way to provide caregivers the time off they need.
Use national agencies, such as the National Respite Network, to locate companionship and light care assistance for your loved one. USAging’s Eldercare Locator can help you find the local area agency on aging (AAA), which may also maintain a referral network of respite caregivers.
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Experts recommend planning for respite care before it’s needed for two reasons. First, you and your loved one will appreciate having time to thoughtfully interview or visit potential caregivers. Second, you’ll have time to make alternative arrangements if your first choice of caregivers isn’t available, such as for holidays and vacations.
You’re not alone, and support is closer than you think. Our Senior Living Advisors can offer guidance on in-home care respite options, and they can point you to senior living communities that provide respite care — all at no cost to your family.
Respite care is another cost on top of all the other costs for senior care. If a family caregiver isn’t aware of the different ways to cover those costs, then cost can be a real disadvantage. Fear of disrupting family routines and feelings of guilt are other potential disadvantages of respite care.
Some caregivers are hesitant to engage a respite caregiver because they feel guilty about leaving the care of their loved one to someone else. Additionally, they may have trouble trusting someone else to care for their loved one as well as they do.
Respite care may not be the best fit for someone whose medical condition is unstable or someone who resists new caregivers, causing more stress than relief.
No, respite care and hospice aren’t the same thing. Although respite care is commonly used by people who are receiving hospice services, respite care can be helpful in any senior care situation.
A Place for Mom. (2025). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth. (2025). Cost of care survey.
National Council on Aging. (2024, December 12). Does Medicare cover respite care?
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hospice payments.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025, June 3). Geriatrics and extended care: respite care.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2024, July 18). Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance.
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