Respite care allows caregivers a chance to take a break and see to their own needs while feeling confident that their loved one who needs assistance is safe and secure. One of the biggest things to consider when arranging for respite care is duration. To determine how long a respite care stay should be, consider the following factors.

1. Your Needs as a Caregiver

Caregivers may decide to arrange for respite care for their loved ones for a variety of reasons. They may need time to:

• Rest and relax
• Travel for work or pleasure
• Visit with friends or family
• Arrange a move to a new home for themselves or a loved one
• Undergo a medical procedure
• Recover from an illness
• Run errands
• Make medical appointments
• Complete chores or DIY home improvement projects
• Plan or attend an important event
• Temporarily care for another loved one

Whatever your reason is for seeking respite care for your loved one, keep it in mind as you make arrangements. Ensure you give yourself enough time to accomplish whatever you need to do. For example, if you’ll be traveling, you may want your loved one’s stay to begin a couple of days before your trip and end a few days after so you have an opportunity to pack, unpack and take care of personal business.

If you’ll be undergoing a medical procedure while your loved one is in respite care, talk to your own health care provider about the recovery process. Set realistic expectations about when you’ll be able to perform tasks like lifting and moving your loved one. Providing yourself ample time to recuperate will help you protect your own health and give your loved one the best care possible when they return home.

2. Your Loved One’s Needs and Preferences

A senior living community that offers respite care will attend to your loved one’s daily needs. However, you’ll also need to consider the impact that being away from home may have on them.

For example, individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia often benefit from having a set daily routine, and relocation to a senior living community may disrupt it. Fortunately, the community will likely have an established daily schedule of its own that your loved one can benefit from. You may want them to remain at the community for a longer period, such as a week or 10 days, rather than a day or two to give them time to adjust to a new routine and grow comfortable.

If your loved one is able to understand what’s happening, discuss the respite stay with them. Let them know the reason for it and describe why it’s important to you. Seek their input about how long they're willing to be away from home and honor their preferences as much as possible, balancing their needs with your own.

3. Your Loved One’s Health Plan Coverage

If your loved one has a health care plan, check to see whether it provides coverage for respite care. Medicare Part A will typically cover up to 5 days of inpatient respite care for people who qualify for hospice care. To be eligible for hospice care, a person must:

• Have a hospice doctor and a primary care physician certify that the individual has a life expectancy of 6 months or less
• Be receiving palliative or comfort care rather than care to cure a disease or illness
• Sign a paper stating that they'll receive hospice care instead of traditional care coverage provided by Medicare

Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance and Medicaid plans may also provide coverage for respite care for individuals in hospice and/or seniors with certain conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Checking the details of your loved one’s plan can let you know how many days of a respite stay will be covered and whether you’ll need to pay a daily co-pay or coinsurance.

4. Your Budget

Depending on your loved one’s health insurance coverage, you may need to pay for all or some of the respite stay out of your own pocket. Typically, senior living communities charge for respite care by the day or week. Establishing a budget ahead of time will let you choose a length of stay you can afford.

5. Expert Advice

As you plan for your loved one’s respite care, consult their health care provider and ask for advice. They can help you make a decision on the ideal length of stay based on your loved one’s physical, mental and emotional needs. In addition, you can talk to the team at the Bethesda senior living or other community that you choose about the length of the stay. As experts in respite care, they can advise you on the average length of respite care and give you more information you can use to make an informed decision. Also, be sure to ask about your ability to extend respite care as needed in case you need more time.

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