Caring for a parent or spouse is a labor of love, and it’s exhausting. Respite care gives family caregivers a planned break while a trained caregiver takes over. A few hours a week can be the difference between coping and burning out.
What respite care is
Respite care is short-term care that covers for the family member who usually provides it. It can happen at home, at an adult day center or during a short facility stay. In-home respite is the least disruptive: same house, same routine, same bed.
Signs you need a break
- You’re tired all the time, or not sleeping
- You’ve stopped seeing friends or doing things you enjoy
- You feel irritable, resentful or tearful more often
- Your own doctor’s appointments keep slipping
- You worry about what would happen if you got sick
None of these mean you’re failing. They mean the job has grown bigger than one person.
How families use in-home respite
- A regular afternoon off for errands, rest or your own appointments
- Overnight help so you can sleep through
- Cover while you’re away for a trip, a busy work week or a medical procedure
- A trial run before deciding whether more help is needed
What a respite caregiver does
- Companionship, conversation and activities
- Help with bathing, dressing and moving around the home
- Meals and light housekeeping
- Medication reminders
- Errands and appointments
For a loved one living with dementia, consistency matters. Ask whether the same caregiver can come each visit, and share the routines that keep the day calm. Read more about dementia care at home.
What it costs
In-home respite is billed like other home care, by the hour. The Florida median for a non-medical caregiver was $32 an hour in the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, so a four-hour break once a week comes to about $128 at that rate.
Help paying for respite in Florida
- Veterans: VA respite care can send a home health aide to the home. Enrolled veterans who meet the clinical criteria are eligible, and a copay may apply. Ask your VA social worker, or call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. See homecare for veterans.
- Long-term care insurance: many policies pay for home care, including respite. Check your policy’s waiting period before benefits start.
- Florida Medicaid: respite care is a covered service in the Long-Term Care program.
- State programs: the Florida Department of Elder Affairs funds respite through the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative and RELIEF, which uses trained volunteers. Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 to check eligibility.
Getting started with Sandcastle
We offer flexible respite care, from two hours a week to around the clock.
- A free in-home assessment comes first
- Care can typically begin within 24 hours
- No long-term contract: cancel anytime with 24 hours’ notice
Call Toll Free (800) 572-0135 or send us a message. Taking a break is part of caring well.
Sources: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Florida median hourly rate; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Respite Care; Florida Department of Elder Affairs, elderaffairs.org. Figures checked October 2026.