Home care service
Respite care
Respite care is planned relief for a family caregiver — a trained Selectives caregiver steps into your routine for a few hours, a weekend or a week, so you can rest, travel or simply catch up on your own life.
Is this the right kind of help?
You might recognize some of these:
- You can’t remember the last time you had a full night’s sleep or a day off
- You’re missing your own medical appointments to cover theirs
- You feel guilty for wanting a break — and exhausted enough that you need one
- A wedding, a trip or a work commitment is coming up and there’s no cover
- Other family keep offering to help “sometime” and sometime never comes
If a few of those ring true, a conversation with a care coordinator is a good next step — there’s no obligation.
What’s included
- A detailed handover so the caregiver knows the routine, preferences and warning signs
- The same care you provide — personal care, meals, companionship, medication reminders, supervision
- Cover for a few hours, overnight, a weekend, or a week or more while you travel
- Regular updates while you’re away, as often as you want them
- A calm return — notes on how the time went and anything you should know
The exact tasks are set in a written care plan you approve, and adjusted as needs change.
How Selectives delivers it
Before the first respite visit we sit down with you, not just the person you care for. We learn the small things that make the day go smoothly — the morning order, the way tea is made, the phrase that settles them when they’re anxious.
Caregivers then follow your routine rather than imposing a new one, so your loved one experiences continuity and you come back to a household that hasn’t been disrupted.
Who it’s for
Respite care is for spouses, adult children and other family members providing regular unpaid care — whether you need a recurring weekly break to prevent burnout, or one-off cover for a trip, a procedure or an emergency.
Typical schedules
- A recurring five-hour block on the same day each week
- Overnight or weekend cover once or twice a month
- A full week or more of daily care while you’re away
Care agreements run for a minimum of three months, with two weeks’ notice required to cancel the agreement. Visits have a five-hour minimum and no weekly minimum. Please give 24 hours’ notice to change or cancel a visit; there is no late cancellation fee.
What it costs and how to pay
Pricing is provided after a nurse evaluates your needs. Visits have a five-hour minimum, with no minimum weekly hours. There is currently no additional rate for evening, overnight or live-in care.
Invoices are issued weekly or every two weeks, as agreed. We accept checks and bank transfers. No deposit or card on file is required.
Private pay is our primary focus, and we also work with long-term care insurance and Veterans benefits. Selectives also participates as a Maryland Medicaid provider under the Community Options Program; Medicaid services are subject to eligibility, authorization, program requirements, service availability and other applicable requirements. Contact our care team to discuss your needs and available options.
Respite care: common questions
How far in advance do I need to book respite?
For a planned trip, as much notice as you can give helps us assign the right caregiver and complete a proper handover — a couple of weeks is ideal. We also do our best to cover urgent situations at short notice; call and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible.
Can respite care include overnight stays?
Yes. We can cover overnights, weekends and longer periods. For overnight care we’ll discuss whether you need an awake caregiver or one who sleeps and is available if needed.
Will my relative be upset by a new person?
A thorough handover and, where possible, an introduction visit beforehand make a big difference. For someone with dementia we keep the routine identical and the caregiver follows your cues rather than starting fresh.
Does insurance pay for respite care?
Some long-term care insurance policies and Veterans benefits include respite. Medicare generally does not cover non-medical respite. A coordinator can help you check what your situation allows.
Talk to someone today
A free, no-pressure conversation about what your family needs — call us, or start online and we’ll call you back.