Why do caregivers need respite care?

The need for respite care is growing as people caring for the elderly and the chronically or terminally ill realize the need to reduce their own stress levels in order to be effective in providing the care. Caregivers have few options to "take a break." They are usually on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If able or required to leave the elderly or ill person, they often worry about the relative's care, resulting in greater stress.

Respite care, although not one of the types of "long-term care expenses" eligible for tax-favored status under the provisions for qualified long-term care insurance allows the primary caregiver time off from responsibilities, usually for a short time on an occasional basis. As necessary as respite care is, few organized programs or services are available.

A few states have demonstration projects to provide respite care, and some have authorized hospitals or nursing homes with vacant beds to offer short-term supervision and care. States have authorized a variety of agencies to undertake respite care -- health departments, departments of aging or elderly affairs, and social service agencies -- in addition to enacting statutes and providing funding. Adult day care and residential vacation centers are other examples of respite care providers.

Companies sometimes provide referrals to respite care providers, for example, through an EAP.

Reprinted with permission. © CCH