Respite care cost per hour: 2026 rates by setting

In-home respite care costs $25-$36 per hour in 2026, similar to standard non-medical home care. Adult day services centers run $75-$110 per day. Short-stay residential respite (often at assisted living or skilled nursing facilities) runs $200-$350 per day. The right type depends on the family caregiver's schedule, the client's acuity, and what the family can afford.

Most long-term care insurance policies cover respite care up to a benefit cap. Medicare covers respite only as part of hospice (limited days). Medicaid HCBS waivers in most states include a respite benefit. Veterans Aid & Attendance and several state-level Older Americans Act programs cover respite for eligible families. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides limited respite grants.

Functionally identical. The difference is the purpose: respite is short-term, scheduled around the family caregiver's need for a break (a few hours, a weekend, a vacation). Regular home care is ongoing scheduled hours. Most agencies do not differentiate the rate, but some have lower-cost respite programs for repeat short-term clients.

In some states (NY CDPAP, others), Medicaid programs let family members or close friends become paid caregivers. This is not technically respite (the same person is providing the care), but it does provide financial support. Programs vary widely by state — search "CDPAP" or "self-directed services" + your state.