Respite care at home in Delaware

Respite care is short-term care at home that gives a family caregiver a break. A Reliable Aid caregiver stays with your loved one for a few hours, a full day, overnight, or longer, and keeps their routine going while you're away.

If you've been caring for a parent or spouse on your own, you already know how tiring it gets. Taking a break isn't giving up. It's how you keep going.

What a respite caregiver does

• Stays with your loved one so you can leave the house
• Helps with bathing, dressing, and meals while you're out
• Keeps them company, so they're not sitting alone
• Follows the routine you already have in place
• Gives medication reminders
• Handles light housekeeping during the visit

When families use respite care

• A work shift or a standing appointment
• A full night of sleep, or a weekend away
• Your own doctor visits or a family event
• A regular break every week, before you burn out

How it works

Call us for a free consultation. Tell us when you need to be away and what your loved one needs while you're gone. We'll match a caregiver and get them familiar with the routine. Respite works especially well when it's the same caregiver each time.

Every caregiver is background-checked. We're insured and bonded, and we send a backup if your caregiver can't make a visit.

Paying for respite care

Delaware Medicaid long-term care can include respite for people who qualify. We work with all three Delaware Medicaid health plans. See how Medicaid home care works. Delaware also runs caregiver support programs. The Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center can tell you what fits your family at 1-800-223-9074.

Questions families ask

How long can respite care last?

Anywhere from a few hours to overnight or several days. Tell us the window you need and we'll plan around it.

Do I have to leave the house?

No. Some people run errands. Others rest in the next room. The point is that you're not the one on duty.

Does Medicare pay for respite care?

Generally not for regular home care. Medicare covers respite mainly for people in hospice. Here's what Medicare does cover.

What if my parent has dementia?

Respite is especially helpful with dementia, because a familiar caregiver and a steady routine keep the day calm. See dementia care at home.

Call (302) 689-3240 for a free consultation, or see all home care services and our Dover office.