Knowing that respite care exists is one thing. Actually scheduling it, especially for the first time, can feel like one more task on an already overwhelming list. This guide walks through exactly how the process works, step by step, so you know what to expect and can request a break without extra confusion getting in the way.

• Step 1: Confirm Your Loved One Is Enrolled in Hospice. Respite care is a benefit available specifically to patients already enrolled in hospice under the Medicare hospice benefit. If your loved one hasn’t yet started hospice care but you believe they may qualify, that’s the first conversation to have, since respite care becomes available once hospice enrollment is confirmed. Our eligibility guidelines page outlines what qualifies a patient for hospice in the first place.
• Step 2: Talk to Your Hospice Nurse or Social Worker. Once your loved one is enrolled, the actual request starts with a simple conversation. Reach out to the nurse case manager or social worker already assigned to your loved one’s care and let them know you’re considering a respite stay. You don’t need to wait for a crisis or reach a breaking point to have this conversation; hospice teams generally encourage requesting respite proactively, before exhaustion sets in. Our social workers are typically the first point of contact for this kind of request and can walk you through timing and logistics from the start.
• Step 3: Discuss Timing and Duration. Respite care is available for up to five consecutive days at a time under the Medicare hospice benefit. During this step, you’ll talk through when you’d like the stay to begin, how many days you need, and whether the timing works around any other appointments or family plans. If you’re not sure exactly how much time you need, your care team can help you think through what would actually be restorative versus what feels arbitrary. Learn more: Caregivers Need a Break Too: Understanding Respite Care
• Step 4: Confirm Facility Placement. Your hospice team coordinates placement at an approved facility, typically a skilled nursing facility or inpatient hospice unit, that’s contracted with the hospice program. You generally won’t need to research or select a facility yourself; the care team handles this based on availability and what best fits your loved one’s needs. If you have a preference for a specific facility, it’s worth mentioning during this step, though placement ultimately depends on bed availability and contracting arrangements.
• Step 5: Review the Transition Plan. Before the stay begins, your care team will walk you through what changes during the transition: how your loved one will be transported to the facility, what information the receiving facility will have about their care plan, and how ongoing hospice support, like nursing visits and symptom management, continues during their stay. This step matters because it ensures there’s no gap in your loved one’s care simply because the setting has changed.

Our registered nurses remain involved throughout the respite stay, so the same coordinated hospice support continues regardless of the setting.

Step 6: Use the Time Intentionally

Once the stay begins, this step is about you. Many caregivers aren’t sure what to do with unstructured time after months of their schedules revolving entirely around caregiving. Some caregivers sleep for most of the stay. Others travel to see family, handle their own medical appointments, or simply sit somewhere quiet without needing to be available. There’s no right way to use this time; what matters is that it’s actually restorative rather than filled with tasks you’d normally be doing anyway.

Learn more: 7 Things to Do During a Respite Break (Besides Sleep)

Step 7: Reconnect Before Your Loved One Returns Home

Toward the end of the respite stay, your hospice team will typically check in with you about the transition back home, including any updates to the care plan or new needs that came up during the stay. This is also a good time to ask questions about how the next few weeks of care will go, especially if the break gave you some clarity about what kind of ongoing support might help going forward.

What If You Need Respite Care Again Later

There’s no limit to how many times respite care can be used over the course of a patient’s hospice journey, though it’s generally not used back-to-back without a period of routine care in between. If you find yourself needing another break in a few weeks or months, the process starts the same way: a conversation with your care team, not a new application or a fresh eligibility review.

If You’re Not Sure Whether Now Is the Right Time

Some caregivers hesitate to request respite care because they feel like they should be able to manage on their own, or worry that asking reflects poorly on their commitment to their loved one. If you’re feeling that hesitation, it’s worth remembering that this benefit exists specifically because sustainable caregiving requires rest, not despite that need, but because of it.

Ready to Schedule a Respite Stay?

If you’re ready to talk through scheduling a respite stay, or just want to understand your options before deciding, our team can walk you through the process from start to finish. We support families throughout Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and our full service area. Reach out through our contact page or call us at (800) 993-9391 whenever you’re ready.