Respite Care in Philadelphia, PA
Right Aid Home Care Agency provides respite care in Philadelphia so the family member who usually handles the caregiving can take a real break, while their loved one stays safe and comfortable at home. We are a fully licensed, certified, bonded and insured Pennsylvania non-medical home care agency. Every one of our caregivers is carefully screened and background-checked, including child abuse clearance checks, so you can step away knowing the person at home is someone you can trust.
Get in touch with Right Aid Home Care Agency to discuss your home care needs in Philadelphia and Feasterville-Trevose.
In-Home Respite Care for Philadelphia Families
Respite care is temporary supervision and support for an older adult so the person who usually provides care can take a short break. For our families, that means short-term, non-medical support at home while the spouse, adult child or other family caregiver steps away for a while.
You might need a few hours for work, a doctor's appointment of your own, errands, a trip out of town or simply some rest. Our caregiver comes to the house and takes over for that time, so you can go and actually enjoy it.
It helps your loved one too. Many older adults want to stay in their own home, with their own chair, their own kitchen and their own routine, even for a short stretch. In-home respite care in Philadelphia lets them do just that.
Caregiving at home is common here, with close to three in ten Philadelphia households including someone 65 or older. If you share a home with a parent or spouse who needs help, you are in good company in this city, and those caregiving hours add up quickly.
Respite works the same way as the rest of our care. You get the same carefully matched caregivers and the same personalized care plan, whether you need us for one week while you travel or every Tuesday afternoon for as long as it helps.
How Our Caregivers Help While You Take a Break
Our caregiver steps into your loved one's day and keeps it running the way you already do. We learn the routines you have in place, like when breakfast happens, how they take their coffee and which show they watch in the afternoon, and we follow them, so the day feels familiar while you are away.
Respite care services for seniors can include as much or as little as your loved one needs. A visit can include:
- Companionship, conversation and shared activities
- Personal care, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and hygiene
- Meal preparation and encouraging regular eating
- Medication reminders
- Mobility and transfer assistance
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Errands
Our companion care brings friendly conversation, simple meals and a steady daily routine for a parent who mainly needs company. A loved one who needs more hands-on help can have our personal care at home, with help bathing, dressing and moving from bed to chair, always given with respect for their privacy and dignity.
Our caregivers provide non-medical care. They give medication reminders, keep an eye out for changes and let you know about any concerns when you get back.
Respite Schedules That Fit Your Family
Respite care can be as small as a few hours a week or as full as around-the-clock help. Families use us for regular weekly visits, overnight care, 24-hour care and live-in care, and the schedule can change as your needs change.
Short-term respite care works well for a planned break. A work trip, a family wedding out of state or a medical procedure of your own are all good reasons to set it up ahead of time. We cover those days, then step back when you come home.
Overnight respite care in Philadelphia gives you a full night's sleep. Our 24-hour home care has caregivers working in rotating shifts, so someone is always awake and alert. Live-in care means one caregiver stays in the home and rests overnight, still there if help is needed.
Some needs come up with little warning. Care can often begin within 24 to 48 hours after the initial consultation and assessment, and many families start small and add hours later.
Respite Care for a Loved One With Dementia
Caring for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia can fill every hour of the day, and the family caregiver often needs a break the most. It is also the kind of care where a change in routine can bring on confusion or worry for your loved one.
Our caregivers are trained to support people living with memory loss. They use structured routines, gentle guidance, calm communication and redirection to keep the day steady. The caregiver answers with patience when your loved one asks the same question again, and gently steers the conversation back to something familiar.
Dementia respite care in Philadelphia works best when the routine stays the same while you are gone. Our caregiver follows your loved one's usual schedule for meals, rest and activities, and we assign consistent caregivers whenever possible, so the face at the door becomes a familiar one. You can read more about how our in-home Alzheimer's and dementia care keeps clients calm, safe and comfortable at home.
Respite Care Across Philadelphia Neighborhoods
Philadelphia is a city of rowhouses, and more than half of its homes are rowhouses or other attached homes. Many of them have steep stairs, a bathroom on the second floor and a few front steps down to the sidewalk. Our caregivers help with stairs, getting in and out of bed or a chair, and keeping walkways inside the house clear, so your loved one can move around safely while you are out.
Our Philadelphia office serves families all over the city, including these neighborhoods:
- Chestnut Hill
- Rittenhouse Square
- Old City
- Queen Village and Bella Vista
- Fairmount and the Art Museum area
Respite care near you is still within reach if your neighborhood is not on that list, since our Philadelphia office serves surrounding areas throughout the city as well.
Philadelphia families speak many languages, and about 163,500 people in the city speak Spanish at home, with close to 25,000 more speaking Russian, Polish or another Slavic language. Many older adults feel most comfortable in the language they have used their whole lives, especially during personal care or a stressful day. Right Aid Home Care Agency has Spanish-, Russian-, Ukrainian- and Armenian-speaking office staff and caregivers, and we offer home care with Spanish-speaking caregivers for families who want it.
Paying for Respite Care in Philadelphia
The cost of respite care in Philadelphia depends on how many hours you need and the kind of help your loved one needs. Our private-pay home care starts at $26.18 per hour. Your actual rate depends on your location, travel distance, individual care needs, and the specific services provided. We provide clear, upfront pricing. You can see typical monthly costs and ways to pay in our guide to the cost of home care in Philadelphia.
Right Aid Home Care Agency accepts private pay, Keystone First, PA Health & Wellness, UPMC, ACT 150, OBRA and other Pennsylvania Medicaid waiver programs for qualifying clients. Medicaid can help cover respite care in PA for people who qualify, and the state's Community HealthChoices and OBRA waivers both list respite among their services.
Long-term care insurance may cover a portion of home care, and veterans and their spouses may qualify for programs such as Aid and Attendance. Medicare typically does not cover non-medical home care.
Family caregivers can also lean on Philadelphia's area agency on aging. Its Caregiver Support Program offers care management and sliding-scale financial help that can reimburse services such as personal care for eligible unpaid caregivers. The person receiving care needs to be 60 or older, 18 or older with a disability, or any age with dementia, and need help with at least one daily activity.
Why Philadelphia Families Choose Right Aid Home Care Agency
We have been serving Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County and Delaware County for over 10 years. Families trust us with the people they love, and we take that trust seriously.
We are fully licensed, certified, bonded and insured. Our caregivers are screened, trained and background-checked, including child abuse clearance checks, and they are chosen for their compassion and integrity along with their experience.
You also get a say in who comes to the house. We give you the opportunity to choose the caregiver who is right for you, matching on personality, preferences and care needs. We do our best to keep the same caregiver with your loved one, and we will work with you to find a better match if one is not working out.
You can read reviews from families and caregivers whenever you would like to hear from people who have been where you are.
Getting Started With Respite Care
Getting started takes three simple steps. First, we have a conversation to get to know your needs and goals and see whether we are a good fit. Next, we meet with you and your loved one at home to learn about your situation and build a care plan. Then care begins, and our team keeps supporting your family as your needs change.
The in-home assessment is free and comes with no obligation, so you can ask every question you have before deciding anything. It is also a good time to tell us about your loved one's routines, so the caregiver can follow them from the very first visit. Reach out on our Contact Us page when you're ready, and tell us a little about the break you have in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is respite care?
Respite care is short-term support for an older adult so the family member who usually provides care can take a break. Right Aid Home Care Agency provides respite care at home, with the same screened caregivers and personalized care plans we use for all of our clients.
How quickly can respite care start in Philadelphia?
Care can often begin within 24 to 48 hours after your initial consultation and assessment. We understand some situations are urgent, and we work quickly to put the right support in place.
Can respite care be just a few hours, or does it need to be overnight?
It can be either one. Care ranges from a few hours a week to full-time, overnight, 24-hour or live-in care, and the schedule can change as your family's needs change.
Do you provide respite care for someone with dementia?
Yes. Our caregivers are trained to support people with Alzheimer's and dementia using structured routines, calm communication and redirection.
Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for respite care?
Medicare typically does not cover non-medical home care. We accept private pay, Keystone First, PA Health & Wellness, UPMC, ACT 150, OBRA and other Pennsylvania Medicaid waiver programs for qualifying clients.
Is there help for family caregivers in Philadelphia?
Yes. The city's area agency on aging runs a Caregiver Support Program with care management, education and training, and sliding-scale financial help for eligible unpaid caregivers.
Will my loved one have the same caregiver?
We do our best to match your loved one with a consistent caregiver to build trust and familiarity, and you can choose the caregiver who suits your family. For 24-hour care, a small team may rotate to keep coverage continuous.