Mental Health An Overview of Mental Health Respite Care What is it? By Jeanna Smiley Jeanna Smiley Verywell Health's LinkedIn Verywell Health's Twitter Jeanna Smiley is a health and wellness writer focused on sharing science-based information about health inequities, mental health, substance use disorder, and healthy eating. Her work has appeared on various health and recovery center websites in the U.S. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 07, 2023 Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print When caregivers need more support, respite care is available to families caring for their loved one’s mental health. This care makes it possible for caregivers to manage their health and well-being by having a break and receiving the support they need. Read more about respite care and what it provides in this overview. Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou What Is Mental Health Respite Care? Mental health respite care is a system of services offering a temporary break between a caregiver and their loved one with mental illness. Trained volunteers or staff can come to your home or let your loved one stay at a daycare center or residential facility. Services can be arranged in advance or available during a crisis. What Mental Health Respite Provides Mental health respite care gives caregivers and other family members time to tend to self-care and other responsibilities. The individual with mental illness also has opportunities to interact with others safely and participate in planned activities. Respite for Caregivers of Adults Respite care includes planned in-home services that can last for an hour, a day, or overnight. Adult daycare centers for older adults operate on weekdays during daytime hours. Residential programs such as group homes, hospitals, and nursing homes can provide planned or emergency overnight services. Special respite services for youth caregivers of adults may be available in your area as well. Respite for Caregivers of Kids Respite services for caregivers of kids are similar to programs for adults. In-home, daycare, and residential options are available for children with mental illness as well. Programs include age-appropriate activities. Respite daycare for kids is different from traditional child daycare because it is provided on a short-term basis. Who Delivers Respite Care? Many caregiver support programs include respite assistance. Your local Agency on Aging may administer the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP). Nonprofits and private agencies provide respite services for all ages at no cost or for a fee. These facilities and organizations offer mental health respite services in many communities: Alcohol and drug rehab facilitiesSober living housesNursing homesAssisted living facilitiesReligious establishmentsCommunity centersEasterseals Cost Estimates The Genworth Cost of Care Survey offers these national averages for respite care:In-home care: $23.50 per hourAdult daycare: $74 per dayAssisted living facility: $141 per dayNursing home: semiprivate room - $255 per day, private room - $290 per day Your or your loved one's primary care doctor or therapist might refer your family to local or state agencies for mental health respite services. If you're caring for a child with mental illness, Family Voices chapters can also help you find out which services you may qualify for. What Occurs During Respite Care? In-home respite care providers can render personal care or help with meal preparation, housekeeping, and errands. Skilled healthcare professionals can offer specialized medical assistance if needed. Adult and youth daycare centers provide a safe, supportive environment with meals and snacks. Trained volunteers or behavioral specialists coordinate lessons, games, and social activities. Summary Mental health respite care gives you and your loved one essential support and relief. Some services send a trained volunteer or professional to your home to provide care. In other situations, your loved one could stay in a facility during the day or for an extended time. Social services can arrange or point you to respite programs in your area. A Word From Verywell The responsibilities of caregiving can increase your risk for developing physical, mental, and financial problems. Even if you feel that no one will care for your loved one as well as you, you need rest to maintain your own well-being. It’s not selfish or neglectful to take a break. Consider beforehand how you will use respite time to make the most of it. Familiarize yourself with providers, particularly those who offer emergency services. Please reach out for support before you feel out of control or burned out. Respite care can help you and your loved one diffuse a volatile situation or regroup to face life together again. Frequently Asked Questions How long does respite care last? The length of service for respite care depends on your needs and the program's stipulations. Respite services can last from an hour to a day or several days with in-home care. Daycare may last for four to eight hours. Residential care may last overnight or several days or weeks. How frequently can you use respite care? When paying privately, you can hire respite care as often as you want. Medicare recipients can have one five-day respite period with each billing cycle. For other situations, each agency sets its own limits for using their service. What are the costs of respite care? Respite care costs depend on the type of services you use, the agency, and how long you use the services. Providers charge hourly, daily, or weekly rates, which vary greatly. Most insurance plans do not typically cover the costs for residential mental health treatment facilities. However, many programs try to keep out-of-pocket expenses as low as possible. 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Child Welfare Information Gateway. Respite care programs. American Association of Caregiving Youth. Caregiving youth project – comprehensive prioritized free services. Administration for Community Living. National family caregiver support program. Easterseals. Mental health services. Genworth. Cost of care survey. Family Voices. Supports for families of children and youth with special health care needs: a quick reference guide to family-led organizations. Ploeg J, Markle-Reid M, Valaitis R, et al. Web-based interventions to improve mental health, general caregiving outcomes, and general health for informal caregivers of adults with chronic conditions living in the community: rapid evidence review. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19(7):e263. doi:10.2196/jmir.7564 ARCH National Respite Network. ABCs of respite: a consumer guide for family caregivers. Bouchery EE, Barna M, Babalola E, et al. The effectiveness of a peer-staffed crisis respite program as an alternative to hospitalization. PS. 2018;69(10):1069-1074. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201700451 National Institute on Aging. What is respite care?. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit