Respite care is a service that provides substitute caregiving for a period of time to relieve unpaid or informal carers. Carers generally use this time for self-care, such as to rest or attend to their affairs. Respite care can take place in a range of settings, including:

  • Your loved one’s home
  • Your home
  • Adult day care centre
  • Residential facilities that provide overnight care

Respite care may provide different types of relief. The service could be brief, such as a care provider coming to your house or your loved one’s home for a couple of hours if you want to run errands or attend a social event. Respite care can also support carers who want a holiday or need to focus on their health.

How do respite care services work?

Respite care covers a wide range of services, depending on the needs of the carer or the person under care. Some of the tasks a respite care provider can help your loved one with include the following:

  • Bathing
  • Preparing meals
  • Dressing
  • Taking medications
  • Doing laundry
  • Toileting
  • Shopping
  • Using transport
  • Receiving medical care

Advantages of respite care

Carers who take time for themselves are better able to resume their caring responsibilities. Respite care can be helpful to the patient as well. The fact that their care team can call on a twenty-four-hour facility to meet their needs provides some patients a sense of independence and a renewed appreciation of their carers after the break.

Respite care benefits carers and patients. For carers, respite care provides the following:

Physical and emotional relief: By taking a much-needed break from daily caregiving, respite care gives carers the ability to recharge.

Better self-care: So you can attend your own medical appointments, run important errands or just enjoy a quiet afternoon doing a hobby you love.

Restored sleep schedule: Trusted experts handle nighttime needs, allowing you to get the deep, uninterrupted rest necessary to stay well.

Less isolation: By using your time away to get out of the home and reconnect with family, friends and your broader support system.

Respite care costs

Respite care can be expensive. The amount varies depending on the length of required services, as well as whether the respite care provider will come to a home, yours or your loved one’s.

The national median rate for a visit from a home care worker is $28 an hour. If you choose to take your loved one to an adult day care centre, the national median cost is $78 per day.

Depending on the care type, you may be charged the following:

  • By the hour for services such as in-home care
  • By the day for services such as adult day care
  • By the month for a longer-term placement, such as a nursing home

Who pays for respite care?

Respite care can be covered by:

  • Long-term care insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Grants
  • Personal funds

If you are paying for respite care yourself, you can hire a home care worker or use the services of a facility as required.