Area Agency on Aging are the local front door and primary gateway to respite care in most communities. They help you find adult day programs, inhome respite, overnight or shortterm facility care. They can screen for financial assistance (Caregiver Support Program, Medicaid waivers). They can offer referrals, not sales. They provide information at the state level and from there you can go to the county or city level depending on the state. It points to individual residences, a description, and contact information.

Other sources for locating respite alternatives include:

• Eldercare Locator If you don’t know where to call, this is the fastest way to get pointed in the right direction. It routes you to a range of local resources, AAAs, disability agencies, and provides expanded contact information.

• ARCH National Respite Network & Resource Center is a national hub for respite services. It has useful information about types of respite, how to choose a respite provider, how to pay for respite, and how to get paid for respite. It also provides information on how to locate respite providers and a hub for registries of respite providers across many, but not all states.

Home health care agencies offer medical and nursing services while others offer custodial and companion care. They are very different and the latter can’t legally do anything medical, which precludes administering medicine. 

Adult day care provides a safe, secure, and social environment for the care recipient, and a consistent work environment and stable income for staff.

There are three types; social, health and dementia, many are state sponsored programs, and the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locater is a good way to locate them.

Short-term stays at senior living facilities and nursing homes are a good option for longer respite periods, for example a family vacation. Facilities, staff, and social environment are all in place and available.