Caring for someone you love is meaningful, and it can also be exhausting. Respite care gives you short, planned breaks so you can rest, recover, and return to caregiving with more energy. If you live in Burbank or greater Los Angeles, you can arrange respite in your home or in a contracted facility for a few hours, a few days, or a full week.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care is short, planned relief for family caregivers while your loved one continues to receive attentive, comfort-focused support. It can happen in your home or at a contracted facility for a set period, from a few hours to several days. The purpose is simple, you get time to rest, keep your own appointments, and recharge while trained caregivers follow your loved one’s usual routines.
What Respite Care Includes
Respite care is flexible, which means you can build a plan that fits your family.
- Skilled Nursing Check-Ins: Symptom assessment, medication review, and communication with your primary provider or hospice team.
- Home Health Aide Support: Bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and safe transfers.
- Companionship And Supervision: Conversation, reading, music, and gentle activities.
- Comfort-Focused Care: Positioning for comfort, basic wound care as ordered, and support for eating and hydration.
- Caregiver Guidance: Tips for safe mobility, skin protection, and creating a simple daily routine.
Signs You May Need A Break
You do not have to wait for a crisis. If any of the following feel familiar, respite care can help.
- You sleep less than six hours most nights or wake up multiple times to provide care.
- You feel irritable, tearful, or on edge more days than not.
- You skip your own medical appointments or medications because of caregiving.
- You worry about making a mistake due to fatigue.
- You have no time to be a spouse, child, or friend outside of your caregiver role.
Real Benefits For Caregivers
Taking a planned break protects your health and your ability to care.
- Better Sleep And Mood: Even two to three nights of uninterrupted rest can improve focus and patience.
- Lower Stress: Short breaks reduce the feeling of carrying everything alone.
- Stronger Relationships: Time away allows you to reconnect with family and friends.
- Safer Caregiving: Rested caregivers make clearer decisions and follow care plans more easily.
- Sustainable Routine: Respite creates a rhythm of effort and recovery instead of long stretches of burnout.
For practical ideas on scheduling breaks, see Top Ways To Use Respite Care and choose the options that fit your family.
How Respite Care Supports Your Loved One
Respite is for you, and it also benefits the person you love.
- Reliable Routine: Aides and nurses follow familiar schedules and preferences.
- Comfort And Safety: Proper positioning, skin checks, and symptom observation keep comfort at the center.
- Social Connection: Friendly companionship can lift mood and reduce restlessness.
- Reduced Hospital Trips: With regular check-ins and early problem solving, small issues are less likely to become emergencies.
Types Of Respite Care You Can Choose
Different families need different options. You can combine these as your needs change.
- In-Home Respite: A nurse or aide comes to your home for a set number of hours. This is ideal when travel is difficult or your loved one prefers familiar surroundings.
- Facility-Based Respite: A short stay at a contracted facility gives you several days of complete relief, helpful for caregiver travel or major life events.
- Volunteer Companion Visits: Trained volunteers provide conversation, reading, or caregiver relief for brief periods.
- Overnight Or Weekend Coverage: Planned blocks of time so you can rest, attend events, or visit family out of town.
Discover more respite care options you can choose in Burbank, by visiting our respite page for more details here.
What Respite Looks Like In Los Angeles County
Journey serves families across Los Angeles County and nearby communities. Services adapt to the size and layout of local homes and apartments, and to the realities of city traffic and busy schedules.
- Flexible Scheduling: Morning or evening visits, weekday or weekend options.
- Equipment Support: Coordinated delivery of items like hospital beds or shower chairs through our durable medical equipment partners.
- Culturally Sensitive Care: Respect for language, faith, and family traditions is part of every visit.
- Smooth Transitions: If your loved one is on hospice service, respite can be built into the plan of care so support feels continuous.
Costs And Coverage
Coverage depends on your loved one’s specific situation and benefits. Many families access respite as part of a hospice plan of care, which often includes short-term inpatient respite at a contracted facility when needed. Private pay options and community resources may be available for non-hospice respite. During your first call, we review your benefits, explain options in clear language, and help you choose what fits your family and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Respite Only For Full-Time Caregivers?
No. Anyone providing regular support can benefit, including adult children who share care with siblings or a spouse who is balancing work and caregiving. - Will My Loved One Be Anxious With Someone New?
We learn routines and preferences before the first visit. We start with shorter visits, build familiarity, and keep the environment calm and predictable. - Can Respite Happen While We Are In Hospice?
Yes. Respite often fits naturally within a hospice plan, which centers on comfort and support for both patient and family. - What If I Need Help Quickly?
Call us. We will discuss options that meet your immediate needs and then create a sustainable plan for the weeks ahead.
Call For Supportive Respite Care Today
Talk With A Care Coordinator About Your Next Break
Call (818) 748-3427 or send us a message to plan respite care that fits your life. Journey Palliative & Hospice supports families in Burbank, Los Angeles County, and nearby communities across Ventura County, Orange County, Riverside County, and Kern County. You will receive a clear plan, respectful care, and real relief.
