What is respite care and how much does it cost?

Respite care is temporary relief for family caregivers — someone else takes over care duties so you can rest, work, travel, or handle personal needs. It ranges from a few hours to several weeks. Costs depend on the type: in-home respite runs $20-$35/hour, adult day care averages $85/day, overnight facility respite costs $150-$350/night, and residential respite runs $250-$400/day. Many programs offer free or subsidized respite through Medicaid waivers, VA benefits, and the National Family Caregiver Support Program.

Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for respite care?

Medicare covers up to 5 consecutive days of inpatient respite care under the hospice benefit only — the patient must be enrolled in hospice. The copay is about $5/day. Medicaid covers respite care in most states through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, typically providing 10-30 days per year. The VA provides up to 30 days of respite care per year for veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. The National Family Caregiver Support Program offers free respite through local Area Agencies on Aging.

How do I find respite care near me?

Start with your local Area Agency on Aging (call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116). Other resources include the ARCH National Respite Locator (archrespite.org), your state's Medicaid HCBS waiver program, VA Caregiver Support (if caring for a veteran), local Alzheimer's Association chapters, faith-based organizations, and adult day care centers. Many communities also have volunteer respite programs and respite cooperatives where caregivers exchange time.

Respite Care Guide: Types, Costs & How to Find a Break (2026)

53 million Americans provide unpaid caregiving to a family member, and 40% report high emotional stress. Respite care — temporary relief from caregiving duties — isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for preventing caregiver burnout, depression, and health problems that can make you unable to provide care at all.

Quick answer: Respite care provides temporary relief for family caregivers, ranging from a few hours to several weeks. Costs: in-home $20–$35/hour, adult day care $85/day, facility overnight $150–$350/night. Free or subsidized options include Medicaid HCBS waivers (10–30 days/year in most states), VA respite (30 days/year), Medicare hospice respite (5 days at ~$5/day copay), and the National Family Caregiver Support Program through your local Area Agency on Aging. Start by calling the Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116.

Types of Respite Care

Type	Duration	Best For	Typical Cost
In-home respite	Hours to days	Keeping care recipient in familiar environment	$20–$35/hour
Adult day care	Daytime (6–10 hours)	Regular weekday relief for working caregivers	$50–$150/day
Overnight facility	1–30 nights	Caregiver vacation or medical recovery	$150–$400/night
Emergency respite	Immediate (hours to days)	Caregiver illness, family emergency	Varies
Informal respite	Flexible	Quick breaks using friends, family, volunteers	Free
Residential respite	Days to weeks	Extended caregiver break or trial placement	$250–$400/day

In-Home Respite Care

Cost Breakdown

Service Level	Hourly Rate	4-Hour Visit	8-Hour Day	24-Hour Day
Companion/sitter	$18–$25	$72–$100	$144–$200	$250–$350
Home health aide	$25–$35	$100–$140	$200–$280	$375–$500
Certified nursing assistant	$28–$38	$112–$152	$224–$304	$400–$550
Licensed practical nurse	$35–$50	$140–$200	$280–$400	$550–$750

What In-Home Respite Workers Do

Task	Companion	Home Health Aide	CNA/LPN
Companionship	Yes	Yes	Yes
Meal preparation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Light housekeeping	Yes	Yes	Yes
Medication reminders	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bathing/dressing/toileting	No	Yes	Yes
Transfers/mobility help	No	Yes	Yes
Wound care	No	No	Yes
Medication administration	No	No	Yes (LPN)

Facility-Based Respite Care

Costs by Facility Type

Facility	Daily Rate	Weekly Rate	What’s Included
Assisted living	$150–$300/day	$1,050–$2,100	Room, meals, personal care, activities
Memory care	$200–$400/day	$1,400–$2,800	Secure environment, specialized staff, cognitive programs
Nursing home	$250–$400/day	$1,750–$2,800	24-hour skilled nursing, meals, medical supervision
Group home	$125–$250/day	$875–$1,750	Small home setting, personal care, meals

How Facility Respite Works

Step	Details
Pre-assessment	Facility evaluates care recipient’s needs (may take 1–2 weeks)
Minimum stay	Usually 3–7 days minimum
Maximum stay	Typically 30 days (longer becomes residential care)
What to bring	Medications, clothing, personal items, advance directives
Booking	Reserve 2–4 weeks in advance (longer for holidays)
Availability	Not all facilities offer respite; memory care respite is especially limited

How to Pay for Respite Care

Free and Subsidized Programs

Program	What It Covers	Who Qualifies
National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)	Free respite hours (varies by state/county — typically 50-200 hours/year)	Caregivers of adults 60+, or grandparents raising grandchildren
Medicaid HCBS waivers	10–30 days/year of respite	Care recipient must meet Medicaid + nursing home level of care
VA respite care	30 days/year (in-home, adult day, or facility)	Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare
VA Caregiver Support	Stipend + 30 days respite/year	Caregivers of post-9/11 veterans
Medicare hospice	5 consecutive days inpatient respite; $5/day copay	Patient enrolled in Medicare hospice
Alzheimer’s Association	Respite grants (limited)	Caregivers of people with dementia
State-funded programs	Varies widely	Income-based eligibility
Faith-based programs	Free volunteer respite (usually a few hours)	Typically open to community

Insurance Coverage

Insurance	Covers Respite?	Details
Medicare (standard)	No	Only under hospice benefit
Medicare Advantage	Sometimes	Some plans include limited respite as supplemental benefit
Medicaid	Yes (most states)	Through HCBS waivers; must apply and qualify
Long-term care insurance	Usually yes	Check policy — many cover respite as part of home care benefit
Health insurance	No	Not considered medical care

Dependent Care FSA/Tax Credit

Tax Benefit	Details
Dependent Care FSA	Can use pre-tax dollars for adult day care if care recipient is your tax dependent and you work
Child and Dependent Care Credit	20–35% credit on up to $3,000 (1 dependent) or $6,000 (2+) for adult day care if you work
Medical expense deduction	Respite care costs may qualify as medical expenses if care recipient is medically dependent

How Much Respite Care Costs Per Year

Respite Schedule	Annual Cost (In-Home)	Annual Cost (Facility)
4 hours/week	$5,200–$7,280	N/A
8 hours/week	$10,400–$14,560	N/A
1 weekend/month (facility)	N/A	$3,600–$7,200
1 week every 3 months	N/A	$4,200–$11,200
2 weeks/year (facility)	N/A	$2,100–$5,600
Combination: 4 hrs/week + 2 weeks facility/year	$7,300–$12,880	Combined

Finding Respite Care

Resources

Resource	What They Offer	Contact
Eldercare Locator	Connects to local Area Agency on Aging for respite programs	1-800-677-1116
ARCH National Respite Locator	Database of respite providers by ZIP code	archrespite.org
VA Caregiver Support	VA respite and caregiver programs	1-855-260-3274
Alzheimer’s Association	Local chapter respite resources and support groups	1-800-272-3900
211	Local community resource referral	Dial 2-1-1
State Medicaid office	HCBS waiver applications	State-specific
Local adult day care centers	Daytime respite programs	Search online by ZIP

Warning Signs You Need Respite

Sign	Why It Matters
Sleeping poorly or not enough	Caregiver health affects care quality
Feeling angry or resentful toward care recipient	Emotional exhaustion indicator
Withdrawing from friends and activities	Social isolation worsens depression
Getting sick frequently	Immune system compromised by stress
Using more alcohol or medication	Unhealthy coping mechanism
Feeling hopeless about the future	Depression screening needed
Neglecting your own medical appointments	Your health is declining
Snapping at care recipient	Burnout can lead to unintentional harm

Bottom Line

Respite care is essential, not optional, if you’re a family caregiver. Start with free programs — the National Family Caregiver Support Program (call 1-800-677-1116), VA respite (30 days/year for veterans), and Medicaid HCBS waivers (10–30 days/year). For regular relief, adult day care ($85/day) is the most affordable supervised option. Plan your respite before you’re in crisis — programs have waitlists, and you’ll provide better care when you’re not running on empty.