AARP Hearing Center
Respite Care: How to Give Yourself the Caregiving Break You Need
Local resources, including volunteer programs, adult day services and in-home aides, can give caregivers much-needed time to recharge
AARP (Getty Images)
Key takeaways
- Choose from in-home aides, adult day programs or short-term residential stays based on your loved one’s needs, budget and how much you need to recharge.
- While respite care often comes at a cost, financial support or free services may be available through Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs and state grant programs.
- Start your search early for respite care by reaching out to community agencies and services or national groups that can help secure local services.
If you care for a loved one with health problems, dementia or disabilities, you could probably use some breaks to manage your own health and personal business, or just to get time to yourself. Health professionals call that “respite.”
But chances are, you aren’t getting the respite you’d like — or need. Despite the potential benefits, respite care remains notably low among caregivers. Although 39 percent of caregivers say respite services would be helpful, just 13 percent use them. Barriers can be practical, such as limited availability or cost, but they can also be personal, including a lack of trust, feelings of shame or concerns about the quality of care, according to Caregiving in the U.S. 2025, a joint report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
That gap comes with a price, says Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “Caregiving has consequences,” he says. Many caregivers say their health has suffered, and more than one-third say their finances have, says Resendez.
Some programs and policies have improved access to respite care in recent years, says Heather Young, an associate director of the Family Caregiving Institute at the University of California, Davis.
Respite care helps caregivers recharge
There are hundreds of respite care programs nationwide providing support to caregivers. One of them is Joy’s House in Indianapolis, which offers a full-day program for $85 to care for those with dementia and other chronic conditions and disabilities.
Tina McIntosh, founder and CEO of Joy’s House, says one of the greatest benefits of respite care isn’t just the time away — it’s the reassurance that a loved one is safe and engaged. She encourages caregivers to seek help early, before exhaustion and isolation take hold.
“The caregivers I’ve seen who are the most fulfilled and the most present in their care are the ones who raise their hand early and say, ‘I’m going to need help at some point,’ ” says McIntosh. Even a simple question during an intake assessment — “How are you?”— often brings caregivers to tears because, she says, “they haven’t thought about themselves for so long because everything is about their loved one.”
Wanda Wales' mom attends an adult day program giving her much-needed respite from caregiving.
Courtesy Wanda Wales
Wanda Wales, 62, says respite care has helped reduce her stress when caring for her mom, Ola Quarles, 88, who has dementia. Soon after her mom’s diagnosis 12 years ago, Wales enrolled her mom in the program at Joy’s House after a recommendation from her doctor.
When Quarles first began attending the program, Wales was working full-time and managing a team of 100 people. The program allowed her to focus on her job without worrying about her mom’s care. Now retired, Wales still relies on the program to give her time to handle household responsibilities and other commitments. “Having that break gives me a little bit more patience and more compassion and let's me be more present with mom,” Wales says.
Volunteers lend a helping hand
For caregivers who can’t afford paid respite care, volunteers can provide a valuable alternative. Programs across the country train and match volunteers to families. The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center has recognized several volunteer programs as innovative.
“Respite care doesn’t always require a professional caregiver or an expensive facility — sometimes, a trained volunteer and a few hours of time can make a meaningful difference,” says Jill Kagan, director of ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.
Other programs take a community-based approach. Respite for All, for example, works with faith communities across the country to create volunteer respite programs in which trained members of the congregation spend time with people living with dementia.
College students are also becoming part of the volunteer respite workforce. Through the Community Caregivers, supported by James Madison University and the Valley Program for Aging Services, undergraduate students visit participating families one day a week for two hours during the academic semester. Similar programs, including Houseguest at the University of Georgia, pair students with families who need respite.
What type of respite care is available?
Some services send a paid caregiver to your home to provide a few hours of help, while others offer care outside the home for a few hours a day, an occasional overnight or longer. Families also may turn to unpaid help from friends, relatives or neighbors who can step in periodically to give caregivers a break.
Here are some of the most common respite care options:
- Adult day services. Basic adult day services offer supervised activities such as meals, snacks and some assistance for several hours a day outside the home for a set fee. These programs can be a great social outlet for people who don’t need frequent hands-on nursing care, Young says. For people with more intense needs, such as those with advanced dementia or complex medical needs, there are adult day health programs that, for a higher fee, can provide skilled nursing care and services like speech and occupational therapy. The annual cost can reach $26,000 for five days a week, according to the AARP report.
- Emergency respite care. If you suddenly get sick yourself or have another crisis, you may be able to arrange emergency respite care. That might mean having aides come to your home or moving your loved one elsewhere for anywhere from an hour to several weeks, according to the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. But, the center says, these services can be difficult to find, and funding for them is ”extremely limited” in most states.
- Home aides. A home health aide, hired directly or through an agency, can be scheduled regularly to help with dressing, bathing, toileting and eating. In 2025, the median hourly rate for home care was estimated at $35, according to CareScout, part of Genworth.
- In-patient stays. If you have to leave town, your loved one might need to stay in a hospital, hospice or nursing home for a few days. A semiprivate nursing home room costs a median of $315 a day, according to CareScout.
- Volunteers. Whether it’s a family member, a neighbor, a friend or a volunteer from a faith group or service organization, this kind of help is typically offered as a free service.
Who pays for respite services?
You may have to pay out of pocket. But there are other sources that may provide reduced rates or free support. Among them:
- Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA offers in-home care, adult day services and short-term nursing home stays for veterans who meet clinical criteria and where availability exists. Because VA facilities and services are not available in every community, respite options vary by location. Nursing home respite is available for up to 30 days per calendar year.
- Medicare. Original Medicare covers respite care only when your loved one is enrolled in hospice. Then it will cover up to five days at a time in an approved facility, such as a nursing home or hospital, with a 5 percent copay. The Medicare Guide program provides coordinated dementia care to support both people with dementia and their caregivers through several services, including coverage of respite services up to $2,500 annually.
- Medicaid. Most states cover respite care through programs meant to help older adults stay in their homes. Income limits apply, and eligibility and coverage amounts vary widely. Some states are experimenting with additional options, including allowing caregivers to pay other family members to provide respite.
- Other government programs. The Lifespan Respite Care Program awards grants to state agencies that support respite programs and, in some cases, offer vouchers that caregivers can spend on respite care. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides grants to states and territories that can then go to local groups providing respite services. The American Rescue Plan, signed into law in 2021 to speed up financial recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, gave states the option to use some of the funds for caregiver respite. Despite these options, affordability remains a barrier for many families, Young says. “People who have a lot of money are fine because they can afford it out of pocket. But there’s a very large group of people in the middle, who don’t qualify for support and also don’t have any extra.”
Where can I find respite care services?
Join Our Fight for Caregivers
Here’s how you can help:
- Sign up to become part of AARP’s online advocacy network and help family caregivers get the support they need.
- Find out more about how we’re fighting for you every day in Congress and across the country.
- AARP is your fierce defender on the issues that matter to people 50-plus. Become a member or renew your membership today.
Respite services aren’t evenly distributed around the country, Young says. So it can take some work to find what’s available near you. Ideally, she says, you should start looking before you need help. That way, you can get a feel for what’s available in your community, she says, and get on any waiting lists.
Among places to look:
- Alzheimer’s Association. Check with your local chapter for information on respite care for dementia patients. Groups focused on other diseases and disorders can offer similar help. The nonprofit launched a grant program two years ago to support and expand local respite care services, awarding 34 grants in 2026 alone.
- Area Agencies on Aging. Young suggests starting here. These are government or nonprofit groups that assist older adults in every part of the country. They will know about funding resources, volunteer programs, care agencies and facilities in your area. You can find your local agency at the Eldercare Locator or by calling 800-677-1116.
- Respite coalitions. Organizations in many states advocate for people with disabilities and chronic conditions, along with their care partners, and are a possible source of training and respite vouchers.
- The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. This national organization offers a directory of respite providers throughout the country.
- The National Adult Day Services Association. This group provides an online search tool to find adult day centers nearby.
- Volunteer groups. Elder Helpers, AmeriCorps Seniors and local interfaith caregiver groups can find local people willing to visit your loved one and help with household chores. Your Area Agency on Aging should know about groups near you.
- Calendars to schedule family and friends. If you are relying on volunteers, services like Lotsa Helping Hands and CareCalendar can help you sign up and create a schedule for family members, friends and neighbors willing to help.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
Coping with Caregiving Struggles
To reclaim some normalcy, this reader needs to plan for chaos
Restoring Energy for Caregivers' Well-Being
Prioritize making a connection over checking off items on the to-do listManaging Caregiver Guilt During the Pandemic
3 ways to use this uncomfortable emotion to become a better care provider