INTERIM HOME CARE UTAH
Respite Care Services: Every Kind of Break, Compared
Respite care services give a family caregiver a break while someone else cares for their loved one, for a few hours, overnight, or for days or weeks. The main kinds are in-home respite, overnight care at home, adult day programs, short stays in a care facility, and specialized respite through hospice or the VA. The right one depends on how long a break is needed, how much care your parent needs, and whether keeping them at home matters. Respite isn't a luxury. It's what keeps family caregiving going.
Mom has cared for Dad every day since his stroke, three years ago. She hasn't had a full night's sleep in months, she's cancelled her own doctor's appointments, and she snapped at you on the phone last week. She'd never ask for help, but she needs it.
Every kind of respite, side by side
| Kind of respite | How long | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| In-home respite (hourly) | A few hours, once or several times a week | Regular breaks, errands, appointments, rest |
| Overnight in-home care | One night or many | A caregiver who isn't sleeping |
| Adult day program | Weekdays, during the day | A parent who enjoys activities and people |
| Short facility stay | A few days to a few weeks | A caregiver's surgery, travel, or full rest |
| Hospice respite | Short inpatient stays | Families of a parent on hospice |
| VA respite | Varies | Families of eligible veterans |
| Family, friends, and volunteers | Varies | Short, informal breaks |
Signs the caregiver needs a break now
- Not sleeping, or skipping their own meals and appointments.
- Snapping, crying, or withdrawing.
- Their own health getting worse.
- Saying "I'm fine" more often, and meaning it less.
- Mistakes with medications or appointments.
See caregiver burnout.
How to choose
- How long a break? A few hours points to in-home or adult day. A week away points to round-the-clock in-home care or a short stay.
- How much care does your parent need? Supervision only, or hands-on help with bathing, transfers, and nights?
- Does staying home matter? In-home respite keeps routines the same, which matters most with memory loss.
- Is this regular or one-time? Regular weekly respite prevents burnout. One-time respite covers a specific event.
Where to go next
- Getting started with in-home respite: see in-home respite care: where to start.
- Nights: see overnight respite care.
- Covering a trip or surgery: see short-term respite care.
- Short stays away from home: see respite stays, and respite homes: preparing for a short stay.
- Choosing a provider: see respite provider: green flags and red flags, and senior respite care: mistakes to avoid.
- For parents caring for an adult child with a disability: see adult respite.
- Veterans: see VA respite care benefits.
- The basics: see understanding respite care for caregivers.
How families pay
- Private pay is most common for in-home respite.
- Long-term care insurance may cover respite. Check the policy.
- Veterans benefits may include respite for eligible veterans.
- Hospice includes short inpatient respite stays.
- Some Medicaid programs cover respite for people who qualify.
Where help at home fits
Our Care Professionals provide in-home respite: a few hours a week, overnight, or around the clock while the family caregiver travels or recovers. They follow your parent's routines, help with bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders, and getting around safely, and give the family caregiver real time off. Your parent gets a small, consistent team, shifts can be as short as four hours, and there are no contracts, so you can use respite once or every week. See how respite care works. Our pricing is clear: the more hours a week, the lower the hourly rate. See your exact price in 30 seconds.
What to do next
- Watch for the signs that the family caregiver needs a break.
- Decide how long a break, and how much care your parent needs.
- Use the table to pick the kind of respite.
- Start small and regular, so breaks become routine.
- Look at all our home care services, or see your exact price in 30 seconds.
Need help for someone in your family? See your price in 30 seconds, or call us to talk it through.
This article is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Talk with a qualified professional about your situation.
Your local office
We serve families across seven Utah counties from three local offices.
- Salt Lake City: Salt Lake, Tooele, Summit, and Wasatch counties
- Layton: Davis and Weber counties
- Lehi: Utah County