Payment Considerations
Insurance will typically not cover the cost of respite services, particularly overnight ones. In some cases, Medicaid may provide waivers to offset costs in patients with specific conditions—you can learn more about this at your state’s Administration on Aging website. If your loved one has disability coverage, he may qualify for home health care benefits. For qualified persons, the VA provides up to 30 days of respite care per year—if you are a veteran caring for a spouse, she may qualify for coverage as well. Certain foundations give grants to respite care providers, while organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association provides respite care funds to help offset costs for families.
If financial restraints make it difficult to pay a facility or independent care provider, consider other alternatives that may not cost a thing. Perhaps you can trade services with other caregivers; if you are just hoping to get a few hours to yourself and your loved one will not require any in-depth care during this time, perhaps you can arrange for a volunteer from a local retirement group or college-bound students who are in need of community service hours.