---
title: "What Is Respite care? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Respite care is short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break. It can last a few hours or several weeks. It can happen at home, in a care facility,..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/respite-care/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Types of care

# Respite care

Respite care is short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break. It can last a few hours or several weeks. It can happen at home, in a care facility, or at an adult day center. Someone else cares for the person so the caregiver can rest, travel, or attend to other needs.

## Why it matters for your family

Family caregivers often skip rest until they are worn out. Respite care protects their health and helps them keep caring for a loved one longer. Options include a relative stepping in, an aide who visits a few hours a week, an adult day program, or a short stay in a care community. Plan ahead. Try a respite provider before an emergency so the person gets used to the new helper. A common mistake is waiting until a crisis. Coverage varies. Medicare covers most costs of some hospice respite stays, and most private insurance does not pay for respite.

Source: [nia.nih.gov](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/what-respite-care)

[Read more: Respite care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/respite-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Caregiver burnout**Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can come from long-term caregiving stress.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/caregiver-burnout/)
-   [**Family caregiver**A family caregiver is a relative, partner, friend, or neighbor who gives unpaid help to someone with an illness, disability, or age-related needs.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/family-caregiver/)
-   [**Adult day care**Adult day care is a community program that gives adults supervised daytime care outside the home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/adult-day-care/)
-   [**Hospice care**Hospice care is end-of-life care for people with an illness that cannot be cured.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/hospice-care/)
-   [**Area Agency on Aging (AAA)**An Area Agency on Aging is a public or private nonprofit agency that a state designates to meet the needs of older adults in a local area.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/area-agency-on-aging/)
-   [**Caregiver stress**Caregiver stress is the physical and emotional strain that comes from caring for another person over time.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/caregiver-stress/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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