Respite Care: Temporarily Handing Over Care

This article explains what respite care entails, the different forms available, and how to arrange it.

Caregivers often provide intensive care for a loved one. It's important to take time for yourself occasionally. Respite care can help by temporarily taking over the care. This can be at home or elsewhere, for short or extended periods. It's not a luxury, but a necessity to sustain the care.

What is respite care?

Respite care is a form of care where someone temporarily takes over your caregiving tasks. This gives you the chance to catch your breath and spend time on other things, such as work, family, or simply rest. It's not a luxury, but an important way to sustain the care for your loved one. Respite care can take place at home or outside, and can range from a few hours to several days. Sometimes someone comes to your loved one's home, and sometimes your loved one goes elsewhere or stays overnight.

The care can be taken over by volunteers or professionals, depending on what is needed and available. The forms of respite care possible and how they are reimbursed depend on your personal situation. It's understandable if you find it difficult to let go of the care, but it's wise to rest occasionally. For more information about the possibilities, you can contact the Wmo desk or a caregiver support center near you.

What forms of respite care are there?

Respite care offers caregivers the chance to catch their breath. There are different forms, depending on what you and your loved one find comfortable. With day care, your loved one goes for one or more parts of the day to a place like a community center, day center, or care farm for activities. Overnight care or short-term stay means your loved one sleeps elsewhere for one or more nights, for example in a care hotel or with a host family.

Presence care means someone comes to your loved one's home, so you can go out. This can be a volunteer or sitter. There are also lighter forms, such as an activity or outing your loved one attends, giving you free time. In some cases, you can participate in activities with your loved one, which can also provide relief.

Which form fits best depends on the situation and preferences. For information about local offerings, you can contact the Wmo desk or a caregiver coordinator.

How do you arrange respite care?

Respite care can help you catch your breath as a caregiver. It's important to know how to arrange and pay for this care. The way you get respite care reimbursed depends on the care your loved one already receives.

1. Does your loved one receive support through the Wmo? Then request substitute care at the Wmo desk in your municipality.
2. Does your loved one have an indication for the Long-term Care Act (Wlz)? Then arrange it through the care office in your region, often with a personal budget.
3. Is the care covered by health insurance (Zvw)? Consult with your GP or health insurer. Sometimes an additional insurance covers caregiver replacement for a number of days per year. Check your policy conditions for this.

Volunteer help is usually free and arranged through a local organization. For short-term stays, where your loved one stays in an institution for up to 72 hours per week, you pay a personal contribution. You can find the amount at the CAK. Do you need help with the application? Coordinators and client supporters provide free advice, and a caregiver broker can arrange it for you.

What are the costs and reimbursements?

Respite care can be reimbursed in different ways, depending on the care your loved one already receives. If your loved one receives support through the Social Support Act (Wmo), you request substitute care at the Wmo desk. Does your loved one have an indication for the Long-term Care Act (Wlz)? Then arrange this through the care office in your region, often with a personal budget.

If the care is covered by health insurance, consult with your GP or health insurer. Sometimes an additional insurance covers caregiver replacement for a number of days per year. Check the policy conditions for this. Volunteer help is usually free and arranged through a local organization.

For short-term stays, where your loved one stays in an institution for up to 72 hours per week, you pay a personal contribution. You can find the amount at the CAK. It's important to first check with the health insurer whether substitute care is reimbursed. If not reimbursed, you can make a Wmo report to the municipality.

What if emergency care is needed?

If emergency care is suddenly needed, there are different steps you can take, depending on the situation. If you as a caregiver unexpectedly fall ill or are hospitalized, substitute care may be needed quickly. This is called emergency care or acute respite care.

The route you need to follow depends on the care your loved one already receives. If your loved one has a Wlz indication, the care office or care provider can arrange extra care at home or a temporary admission. Without a Wlz indication, the municipality is responsible for arranging care if your loved one cannot safely stay at home without your help.

If there is already district nursing, the district nurse can assess whether extra care is needed. In case of direct medical danger, call 112. For situations without immediate life-threatening danger, you can contact the Wmo desk, district nursing, or the care office. It's important to know which agencies you can approach and which steps to follow in case of emergency.

What are the next steps?

Respite care can help you catch your breath by temporarily handing over care. Here are the steps you can take to arrange respite care:

1. Gather information: Understand what respite care entails and what forms are available. It can involve day care, overnight care, or the presence of a volunteer at home. This gives you the space to rest or do other things.

1. Explore local options: Contact the Wmo desk or caregiver support center in your municipality. They can tell you which forms of respite care are available in your area and what suits your situation.

1. Review reimbursement: Investigate how respite care can be reimbursed. This depends on the care your loved one already receives. With support from the Wmo, you request substitute care at the Wmo desk. With a Wlz indication, it goes through the care office. For care under the Zvw, consult with your GP or health insurer.

1. Seek help: Consider enlisting a caregiver broker for help with the application and organization of respite care. This may incur costs, but sometimes you get part reimbursed through an additional health insurance.