What Is Respite Care
Respite care is temporary care provided to give family caregivers a break. It can last a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks depending on the situation and the type of service. The person receiving care gets appropriate supervision and support while the caregiver rests, travels, handles medical issues of their own, or simply recovers enough to continue.
Respite is not abandonment. It's maintenance — of your own health, your relationship with the person you're caring for, and your ability to keep providing care over the long term. Caregivers who take regular respite are less likely to burn out entirely and less likely to make care errors from exhaustion.
Types of Respite Care in Washington
In-home respite: A trained caregiver comes to your home for a set number of hours, allowing you to leave. DSHS funds in-home respite for some eligible caregivers through the Family Caregiver Support Program.
Adult day programs: Your parent attends a structured daytime program while you work or rest. Programs include supervision, activities, and often a meal. Washington has adult day centers throughout the state.
Residential respite in an adult family home: Your parent stays in a licensed AFH for a defined period — typically one to four weeks — while you take a break. Not all AFHs offer this; call ahead and ask specifically.
How Adult Family Homes Provide Respite
Some Washington adult family homes accept short-term respite residents — particularly when they have an available bed. This is often the most comprehensive form of respite, because your parent receives full personal care, meals, medication management, and 24-hour supervision in a safe, licensed environment.
Respite stays in an AFH also serve a secondary purpose: they let you and your parent trial a residential care setting before committing to a permanent placement. If the stay goes well, it often eases the eventual transition conversation.
What Respite Care Costs
In-home respite through DSHS: eligible caregivers may receive funded hours through the Family Caregiver Support Program — contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find out if you qualify. Adult day programs: typically $75–$150/day depending on the program and location. Residential respite in an AFH: typically $150–$300/day, billed at or near the home's daily private pay rate.
Some long-term care insurance policies include respite benefits — check your policy. VA Aid & Attendance may cover respite for veterans' caregivers. Medicare Part A covers up to five consecutive days of inpatient respite care for patients on hospice benefit.
How to Access DSHS Respite Support
Washington's Family Caregiver Support Program offers funded respite hours for caregivers of adults 60 and older, or adults of any age with dementia. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to apply — find yours at the DSHS website or by calling 1-800-422-3263. Availability and wait times vary by county.
DSHS also funds respite for caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities through the DDA program. If your loved one is enrolled in DDA services, respite hours may already be part of their service plan.
Planning Your First Respite Stay
Start small if the idea feels guilt-inducing. A few hours is a meaningful break. Build from there. If you're planning a residential respite stay in an AFH, give yourself two to three weeks of lead time to find an appropriate home with an available bed, complete any paperwork, and prepare your parent for the short-term stay.
Be honest with your parent about what it is and why. "I need a few days to take care of myself so I can keep taking care of you" is the truth, and most people respond better to honesty than to vague explanations. Recognize caregiver burnout →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long can respite last? A: In AFHs, typical stays range from 3 days to 4 weeks depending on bed availability.
Q: Does insurance cover respite? A: Medicare covers only hospice respite. Medicaid waivers and LTC insurance sometimes cover short stays.
Q: How far ahead should we book? A: Two to four weeks for planned breaks; sooner for emergencies.
Q: What should we pack? A: Medications, clothing, insurance cards, advance directives, and familiar comfort items.