Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be exhausting. That's why respite care is so important. It gives primary caregivers the chance to take a break and relax, enjoy friends, regroup, run errands, and take care of themselves. Respite care can be provided at home, in an adult day care center, or in an elderly care community.
When you bring a caregiver to your home, you can use a care agency to provide you with the required care services, use an agency like Eldercare Locator to find a caregiver, post an ad in the newspaper to find a caregiver, or enlist the help of family and friends. This type of care could be organized to take place over a few hours, a day, or over several days or even weeks. It could be just for one occasion, or arrangements could be made for care to be provided on an ongoing basis, from a few hours to full days each week. Adult day care or daycare programs provide caregivers with rest only during the day (the beneficiary returns home in the late afternoon or evening every day) and usually only five days a week during the normal work week. These programs offer social activities, meals, health services, and therapeutic services.
Locations are generally community-based or facilities-based. Adult daycare can be used one to five days a week, and discounts are often offered to those who use the services regularly throughout the week. Transportation to and from the care center is possible. Respite programs in an elderly care community can last from a few hours on a given day to a one-month stay. Longer stays are often used as a test to see how well the older adult adapts to life in the community.
Our free housing and care finder uses your unique needs to select a list of the best options in your area. Because the term “respite care” doesn't mean just one thing, families should research specific rates for staying in their cities based on the services they need. Specific providers and agencies may charge different rates, and not all families have the same needs for respite care. For example, some families may need help with just some household chores and tasks that their loved ones don't have time to do, while others may need to consider getting skilled nursing care for older adults with serious medical conditions. That said, while each family's situation is unique, we can look at national data to understand the general form of what we can expect. Assisted living facilities are the next most affordable (for the average person, depending on their medical and physical needs), although costs can vary when services are related to respite care.
Certain centers may charge extra for temporary assisted living visits or may offer discounts for accepting a longer stay. Depending on the person's needs, home health care is often the most expensive respite care option, but families who can be creative can make the most of this paid help. Home care is a broad category that includes homemaker services, such as shopping and laundry, as well as personal care services and even some medical care. The costs of any type of home care depend on the person's needs and the number of hours they require care per day or week. This also makes home care a flexible option for families, as they can choose to hire professionals only for those tasks for which they cannot find time or for which contracted help could perform them more efficiently. The monthly costs of respite care can be calculated by multiplying the number of days in the month by the daily cost of care, but it's important to note that respite care is not intended to provide long-term care services.
By its nature, respite care tends to last a few hours or days at a time. Our team of senior housing counselors provides free guidance to help you find the housing option that's right for your needs and budget. Respite care is generally charged by the hour or by the number of days the services are provided. Insurance plans usually don't cover the costs; however, some long-term care insurance plans may cover some or all of the costs. The funds to cover the cost of most respite care will come from personal savings. Medicare coverage for respite care is associated with palliative care; therefore, a person must meet the hospice care requirements covered by Medicare to receive respite care.
For people receiving palliative care, Medicare Part A can cover temporary respite care (you may be responsible for five percent of the cost of Medicare-approved inpatient respite care) at an approved facility for up to five days from time to time. There is no limit to the number of times this service can be used. Because Medicaid gives each state considerable freedom in designing and implementing their coverage options, each state will manage the program differently. Eligible beneficiaries should also investigate the possibility of receiving respite care through exemptions under the Medicaid Home and Community Care Services (HCBS) exemption program. The following agencies may be able to provide you with funding or help you find funding to pay for respite care.
You may be able to take advantage of several funding sources, but it will take some effort to determine what you are eligible for. Other sources may include long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, and tax credits. Caregiver support groups can also provide assistance with finding resources for respite services as well as emotional support during difficult times.
