Respite care

Respite care is short-term care for a person living with dementia so the family caregiver can take a break. It can last a few hours or a few weeks. It can happen at home, at an adult day center, or during a short stay in a care community.^1,2

Caring for someone with dementia is steady, tiring work. Nearly 13 million Americans give unpaid care to someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia. About 6 in 10 of them say their emotional stress is high or very high.³ A regular break is not a treat you have to earn. It is part of how you keep going.

What respite care is

The word "respite" means a short rest. Respite care is any care that steps in for the main caregiver for a while. It can be planned on a regular schedule, such as every Tuesday afternoon. It can also be used in an emergency, such as when the caregiver gets sick or needs surgery.⁸

Respite is not only for the caregiver. The person living with dementia can spend time with other people, do activities that fit their abilities, and be in a safe and caring place.²

Types of respite care

In-home respite

A friend, relative, volunteer or paid worker comes to your home.¹ Paid in-home help can include:²

• Company and supervision, such as talking, taking walks or doing simple activities together
• Personal care, such as bathing, dressing and using the toilet
• Homemaker help, such as laundry, shopping and making meals
• Skilled care from a nurse, such as help with medicines or medical tasks

Staying at home can be easier for someone who gets confused or upset in new places. To compare agencies and private hires, see in-home care.

Adult day centers

An adult day center is a group program during the day. People join in social time and planned activities, such as music and art. Many centers include meals and rides.² Adult day care can give you a few hours of rest several days a week. Learn more in adult day care.

Overnight or residential respite

Some assisted living communities, memory care units and nursing homes offer short stays. A stay may last a few days or a few weeks.²

Book early, because short-stay rooms can be limited. Ask what forms, health records and medicine lists the place needs before the first day. See assisted living, memory care and nursing homes.

Help from family and friends

Respite does not have to come from an agency. A relative can stay with the person one afternoon a week. A family member who lives far away can visit for a few days so you can get away.¹ Our care circle tool can help you list who can do what. For tips on sharing the load, see sharing care with siblings and family.

How to find respite care

1. Call your local Area Agency on Aging. Find it through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov.⁴ A federal program, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, helps pay for respite and other caregiver services. It serves caregivers of people age 60 and older, and caregivers of people of any age with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.⁹ Virginia has 25 local Area Agencies on Aging.¹⁰
2. Search the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org. It lists home care agencies, assisted living and community agencies that offer respite. It also points you to your state's respite coalition or Lifespan Respite program.⁵
3. Call the Alzheimer's Association. Its 24/7 Helpline is 800-272-3900. Its free Community Resource Finder lists local programs. Local chapters may know about scholarships and sliding-scale fees.²
4. If the person is a veteran, talk with a VA social worker or case manager, or call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern).^11,12
5. Ask the person's doctor, care manager or hospice team. They often know local programs and can help with forms.

In Virginia, the ARCH locator points families to the Virginia Caregiver Solution Center and Virginia Navigator to search for respite services.⁵

Questions to ask a respite provider

ARCH lists providers but does not check their backgrounds or references. You still need to check each one yourself.⁵

• What training do your staff have in dementia care?²
• Do you run background checks? Can I speak with other families? If you hire someone on your own, interview them and call their references.²
• Can you help with toileting, walking, eating and medicines?
• How do you keep people safe if they try to leave or wander?
• What happens in an emergency, and how will you reach me?
• What does it cost? Is there a minimum number of hours, and a fee if I cancel?

For a full checklist and red flags, see how to choose a care place.

Paying for respite care

Help from family, friends or volunteers may cost nothing. Paid services usually charge by the hour, the day or the week. Most private health insurance does not pay for respite.¹ For typical prices, see what dementia care costs.

Medicare

Outside of the two programs below, Medicare does not usually pay for respite. Overnight stays in care communities are usually not covered by Medicare or insurance.^1,2

• Hospice. If the person is in hospice, Medicare covers most costs for up to five days in a row of respite in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.¹ You may pay 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for that stay.⁶ See hospice care for dementia.
• The GUIDE Model. GUIDE is a Medicare program for people living with dementia and their caregivers. It began on July 1, 2024, and is set to run for eight years. Participating programs can be paid up to $2,500 a year per eligible person for respite at home, at an adult day center or in a care facility.⁷ It is only available through a participating program. As of October 2026, CMS lists 292 participants and posts a map and list to find them.⁷ See caregiver training and support programs and what Medicare covers in dementia.

Medicaid

Medicaid may help pay for respite. Each state sets its own rules.¹ Medicaid often pays through "waiver" programs, which cover care at home and in the community.

In Virginia, the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) Waiver covers respite when a person's unpaid main caregiver needs relief. The family can use an agency, or choose and hire its own worker (called consumer-directed care).¹⁴ Respite is limited to 480 hours per person per calendar year, combined across both ways. That is about 40 hours a month.¹⁴ To join the waiver, a person must qualify for Medicaid and need the level of care given in a nursing home.¹³ Read more in Medicaid and long-term care.

The VA

The VA's Respite Care program pays for short-term care for enrolled veterans who need help with daily tasks like bathing or dressing, who are isolated, or whose caregiver is under strain.¹¹ The care can be:¹¹

• A home health aide who comes to the home
• A day at an adult day health care center
• A short stay at a VA Community Living Center or a community nursing home, scheduled ahead

A copay may apply, based on the veteran's service-connected disability and income. A VA social worker or case manager can help you fill out VA Form 10-10EC, the Application for Extended Care Benefits.¹¹

Family caregivers in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers can get at least 30 days of respite a year, including round-the-clock care at home.¹⁵ That program has strict rules, including a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher.¹² See VA benefits for dementia.

Lifespan Respite programs

The Lifespan Respite Care Program is a federal program that helps states build better respite systems for caregivers of all ages. Congress created it in 2006 and renewed it in 2020. Since 2009, the Administration for Community Living has given grants to 39 states and the District of Columbia. Congress set aside $10 million for it in 2025.⁸

States use the grants to build respite databases, train paid and volunteer workers, reach out to caregivers and, in some states, offer vouchers. A voucher pays back part of what you spend on respite.⁸

In Virginia, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) runs a limited respite voucher program. As of October 2026, families caring for a loved one with a disability or chronic condition can apply for up to $400 back.¹⁰ Funds are limited, so apply early and check the Virginia Division for Aging Services website for current rules.

Other ways to pay

• Long-term care insurance. Some policies cover respite. Read your policy or call the company.¹ See long-term care insurance.
• Scholarships and sliding-scale fees. Ask your local Alzheimer's Association chapter.²
• Taxes. Some care costs may lower your taxes. See tax help for caregivers.

Using respite without guilt

Many caregivers feel they should do it all. Some worry about being a burden or feel uneasy saying they cannot do everything alone.^1,2 These feelings are common. But asking for help does not mean you are failing. Respite can also be good for the person with dementia.² Many caregivers later say they wish they had accepted more help.¹

What research shows. A Cochrane review looked at 4 trials with 753 people. It did not find clear benefits or harms from respite. But the studies were small and the evidence was very weak. The authors said this may reflect poor research, not proof that respite does not help.¹⁶ Limited research Respite works best as one part of support, along with caregiver training, support groups and care for your own health.

1. Try it before you need it. Test a provider at a calm time. Then you will be ready if an emergency comes.²
2. Start small and keep it regular. A few hours at first is fine. Regular short stays can help the person adjust over time.²
3. Write a care sheet. List contacts for the care team and a current medicine list.² Add the daily routine, favorite foods and music, and what calms the person. See building a good daily routine.
4. Ask for help in small, clear pieces. Start with small requests. Use a text or email if asking in person is hard. Match tasks to what each person does well. If someone says no, try not to take it personally.¹
5. Use some of the time for you. Errands matter, but so do sleep, a walk, a friend or your own doctor visit.

If stress is building, read caregiver stress and burnout and setting boundaries as a caregiver.

Common questions

Is respite care the same as adult day care?

Adult day care is one kind of respite. Respite also includes help at home and short overnight stays.² See adult day care.

What if I am suddenly sick or in the hospital?

This is why it helps to plan ahead. Pick one or two backup people who know the person's routine.² Keep the care sheet where they can find it. Ask your Area Agency on Aging about emergency respite in your area. See hospital stays and emergency rooms.

When to get help right away

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.