Respite care is a special name for a short-term break for caregivers. When you look after someone who’s sick or disabled, it’s a 24-hour job. You need a break from time to time to look after your own needs. That’s where respite care can help.

Respite care can take place:

• In your home
• At special day-care centers
• In residential centers that offer overnight stays

Your breaks can be as long or short as you need them to be. You can set up respite care for a few hours, a day, a few days, or a few weeks.

Who Needs Respite Care?

Someone who has an illness or disability may need care around the clock. Caregivers sometimes need time to rest and relax, go on vacation, shop, go to appointments, work, or exercise.

You might use respite care if you’re in charge of someone who has a condition like:

• Cancer
• A brain injury
• Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
• A stroke
• Blindness