Paying for Respite Care

A variety of sources may fund respite services. Eligibility usually depends upon the age, income, and disability of the care recipient. This web page can help you navigate respite funding options. Another member of the family, a friend, or a trained professional caregiver might provide the respite care.

Medicaid Waivers

Medicare Hospice Benefit

National Family Caregiver Support Program

Respite funding may also be available if you are caring for someone older than 60 years, someone of any age with Alzheimer's, if you are a grandparent 55 years or older caring for a grandchild, or the relative of an adult with certain disabilities, through the National Family Caregiver Support Program which is administered through your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). To contact your local Area Agency on Aging, visit AAA Statewide Map.

Veterans

Veterans eligible for outpatient medical services can receive non-institutional respite, outpatient geriatric evaluation and management services, and therapeutically-oriented outpatient daycare. Respite care may be provided in a home or other non-institutional setting, such as a community nursing home.

Ordinarily, respite is limited to 30 days per year. The services can be contracted or provided directly by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff or another provider or payor. A program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Family Caregiver Program of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, provides additional support to eligible post-9/11 Veterans who elect to receive their care in a home setting from a primary family caregiver.

For more information, contact a Caregiver Support Coordinator at a VA Medical Center near you or call the VA’s Caregiver Support Line toll-free at 855-260-3274.

Military Families

Military families can access respite benefits from TRICARE's Extended Care Health Option (ECHO). A family member must first be registered in Tricare's ECHO program to qualify. After registration in ECHO, an assigned ECHO nurse can help to determine eligibility for the benefits. For more information on the respite benefit, talk to your ECHO nurse or contact the ECHO Information and Referral line at 866-212-0442.

Military families can access respite benefits from the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), which offers respite to anyone in the military who is enrolled in the EFMP and meets the criteria. Families can access the EFMP family support by visiting or calling their local installation family center or by contacting Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 and asking for a referral to a special needs consultant. For more information, visit the Exceptional Family Member Program website.

Adult Day Care

Medicare does not cover daycare costs. Still, Medicaid can pay all the costs in a licensed daycare center with a medical model or an Alzheimer's environment if the senior qualifies financially. Some daycare centers offer need-based scholarships. Others may use a sliding fee scale based on income. Private medical insurance policies sometimes cover a portion of daycare costs when registered; licensed medical personnel are involved in the care. Depending upon the policy, long-term care insurance may also pay for adult day services. Dependent care tax credits may be available to the caregiver as well.