Resources
Where to find respite care that families actually use
Respite isn't a luxury — it's how caregivers stay alive long enough to keep caregiving. Here's where the money is.
Updated 2026-02-15
Funded respite options
- Medicare GUIDE — up to $2,500/year of respite for eligible families. Zero copay. Talk to your GUIDE navigator.
- VA Aid and Attendance — covers in-home help for veterans and surviving spouses.
- Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers — vary by state, sometimes pay a family member.
- Alzheimer's Foundation of America grants — up to $500 for emergency respite.
- Hospice respite benefit — Medicare covers up to 5 consecutive days in a facility, can be used multiple times per benefit period.
Where to actually use it
- Adult day programs — social, meals, light supervision. ~$80/day in most states.
- In-home aides — companion care from agencies or matched directly (Memory Lane's Care Network can help here).
- Overnight respite at memory care — book a weekend or a week.
- Specialized respite camps (Lorenzo's House, Alzheimer's Association support — varies by region).
Frequently asked questions
- Can my sister get paid to help with mom?
- In many states, yes — through Medicaid HCBS waivers, the Consumer Directed Care option lets the family member act as the paid caregiver. Rules vary by state.
- What if my loved one refuses respite?
- Start very small — an hour. Pair it with their favorite music, food, or visitor. Most refusal melts once they realize it's a break that's also a social outing.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
Related across the journey
Memory Lane connects every part of dementia care. Here's how this topic threads into the rest.
Paying for Care
Hard Conversations
Keep reading
Paying for Care
VA Aid and Attendance — the most-missed benefit for dementia families
Aid and Attendance is a tax-free monthly benefit on top of the VA pension. For a veteran with a spouse needing care, it can run over $2,800/month — and most families don't know it exists.
Paying for Care
Medicaid HCBS waivers
Medicaid HCBS waivers are how millions of dementia families afford in-home care, adult day, and respite. Eligibility is income + asset based — and the rules are state-specific.
GUIDE
Am I eligible for Medicare GUIDE?
GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is a Medicare program launched in 2024 that gives families a care navigator, 24/7 helpline, caregiver training, and up to $2,500/year in respite — all at no copay.
Hard Conversations
Moving to memory care — knowing when, choosing where
Most families wait too long. The signs that it's time often pile up gradually until something — a fall, a fire on the stove, a wandering episode — forces the conversation.
Paying for Care
What Medicare covers for dementia care
Medicare covers a lot of medical care — and almost no long-term care. Knowing the line saves families thousands.
Paying for Care
Medicare vs Medicaid
Medicare is age-based (65+) and covers acute care. Medicaid is income-based and covers long-term care. Most families need both before this is over.
Learning
Caregiver burnout: the warning signs
Burnout is not a feeling — it's a physiological state. Catching it early lets you act before you (or your loved one) gets hurt.
GUIDE
Respite vs adult day
Both buy caregivers time. They work differently — and you may need both at different stages.