What is respite care?
The short break that keeps family caregiving sustainable, explained for Florida families.
Respite care is short-term care for a person living with dementia so that the usual family caregiver can rest, run errands or recover. It can happen at home, at an adult day center, or during a short overnight stay in a care community, and it can last a few hours or several weeks.
What respite looks like in practice
For one family it is a companion who arrives every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. so a daughter can work from a coffee shop.
For another it is a spouse finally getting to his own cardiology appointment, or a weekend away for a 50th anniversary. The Alzheimer’s Association describes three main forms: in-home help, adult day centers and short overnight stays in long-term care communities.
Types of respite care in more detail
In-home
A friend, volunteer or paid service. Options range from companions with supervised activities to personal care aides, homemakers and skilled nursing.
Adult day center
Staff-led activities like music and art in a group, often with meals and transportation.
Overnight stay
A few days or weeks in a care community, for a trip or a longer recovery.
The Alzheimer’s Association notes overnight residential respite is usually not covered by insurance or Medicare, and costs vary.
Why caregivers need it
Dementia care has no off-switch. Mayo Clinic notes that caregivers report higher stress than non-caregivers and that prolonged stress can contribute to depression, poor sleep and conditions like heart disease. Respite is on Mayo Clinic’s short list of ways to prevent that slide. A rested caregiver is also a more patient one, which your loved one feels.
Making it work at home
- Start before you are desperate. Trying respite in a calm week makes an emergency easier later.
- Keep it regular. The same day, same time and same person help your loved one accept the change.
- Leave a one-page sheet. Medicines list, routines, favorite topics, what calms them. Our information sheet tool works for this too.
- Actually leave. Hovering in the next room rarely feels like a break.
Our post on taking a break without the guilt covers the emotional side.
Paying for respite in Florida
Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative funds in-home, facility-based, emergency and extended respite (up to 30 days) for eligible adults with probable dementia, accessed through your local Aging and Disability Resource Center. If your loved one is on hospice, Medicare covers short-term inpatient respite arranged by the hospice team, with a coinsurance of 5% of the approved amount. Otherwise most in-home respite is private pay. See Florida programs and dementia care costs in Florida.
How much respite care do you need?
Match the kind of break to what you need it for.
| If you need | Options to consider |
|---|---|
| A few hours for errands and appointments | In-home companion, a friend or volunteer |
| Regular workdays covered | Adult day center, in-home help, or both |
| A weekend away | Full-day in-home visits or a short overnight stay |
| Recovery from your own surgery | Extended respite, which Florida’s ADI funds for up to 30 days when eligible |
Whatever you choose, plan ahead.
The Association suggests keeping the medical team’s contacts and a current medication list with doses where any helper can find them, and asking trusted neighbors to be emergency backups. Free online care calendars help several helpers share shifts. Ask about scholarships and sliding-scale fees, and call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 for state-funded options.
When to talk to the doctor
Raise caregiver strain with your own doctor if you are losing sleep, getting sick more often, feeling hopeless or snapping in ways that scare you. Tell your loved one’s doctor too: changes in behavior that make care harder sometimes have treatable causes.
Respite care vs. adult day care
Adult day care is one type of respite that happens at a center, on the center’s schedule. In-home respite keeps your loved one in familiar surroundings, on your schedule, which can suit people who get anxious with transitions. Our side-by-side comparison walks through the trade-offs.
Respite with Dementia Companions
Our dementia respite care uses one consistent companion, screened for dementia care experience, at $35 an hour for 40+ hours a week, with no long-term contract. Call us about shorter schedules.
Related terms
Book your first real break
Tell us which hours you need covered. 3-5 matched companion profiles within 48 hours, $35/hour for 40+ hours a week.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions?
Talk it through with us. A free call about your family's situation, with no obligation.
Call (689) 333-6079Send us a message- Screened for dementia care experience
- Florida ADRD training before the first visit
How long can respite care last?
Anywhere from a couple of hours to several weeks. Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative includes extended respite of up to 30 days for eligible families.
Does Medicare pay for respite care?
Only in a limited way: for people on hospice, Medicare covers short-term inpatient respite arranged by the hospice team. It does not cover routine in-home respite.
Is respite care the same as adult day care?
Adult day care is one kind of respite, delivered at a center. Respite can also happen at home or as a short overnight stay.
How do I apply for state-funded respite in Florida?
Contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center or call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 to ask about eligibility and waitlists.
Can respite care be done at home?
Yes. The Alzheimer’s Association describes three main forms of respite: in-home help, adult day centers and short overnight stays in long-term care communities. In-home respite can come from a friend, a volunteer or a paid service, with options ranging from companions with supervised activities to personal care aides, homemakers and skilled nursing. It keeps your loved one in familiar surroundings, on your schedule. See our dementia respite care.
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