31 Aug Respite Care
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is designed to provide relief to those who are caring for a loved who requires intensive care. It can be planned for a few hours a week, a few days a week, or weeks at a time. Its primary purpose is to allow caregivers, who are often family members or close friends, to step away from their duties so they can take a little time for themselves and return refreshed.
Who needs respite care?
Respite care is available to any caregiver who could use help caring for a loved one. That means respite care is not only for the patient—it’s also for the caregiver.
Anyone who provides round-the-clock care or could use a break from their duties to go to personal appointments, spend time with family, or take a little time for themselves can seek respite care.
This type of care situation is most common among the elderly, but it is also available to patients of any age who are physically or emotionally challenged.
Flexible care options
Because respite care is so broad, it can come in many forms. An informal solution would be to contact other family members who would be willing to take over a portion of the responsibilities of caring for a loved one.
Additional options include:
- Private duty care
- In-home skilled care
- Healthcare facilities
- Adult day centers
- Volunteer groups and nonprofits
Paying for respite care
Pricing for respite care is flexible. Some services will charge by the hour while others will charge by the day or the week.
Insurance probably won’t cover the costs of this type of care. However, Medicare can cover a large portion of the costs if a patient is placed in respite care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility for up to five days if that person is also receiving hospice care. When available, Medicaid is also an option.