Get Started
Help & Accessibility
NAVIGATION
Map
List of Questions
CONTENT
House & Living
Leisure & Mobility
Participation & Employment
Care & Support
Legal Framework
Forum/ Reflexion Tool
Topics related to Care & Support
Respite care services
Country Selection
As the topic varies greatly across Europe, you will find the information divided by country. You will find the information for your own country translated into your national language. By clicking on the country flag and selecting other country flags, you can also access the information for other European countries in English.
What types of respite care services are available in Italy?
Respite care is an opportunity to provide a period of relief from caregiving.
There are different types of relief and support interventions for family caregivers:
- Home-based respite interventions. These services offer family caregivers greater autonomy, relief from care, and time for themselves. Support can be provided by qualified staff at the assisted person’s home on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for serveral hours.
- Integrated social home care interventions.
Social welfare and socio-educational services may be integrated with healthcare interventions depending on the individual’s Personalised Care Plan. - Semi-residential and residential respite interventions. Temporary placement of the assisted person in semi-residential and residential facilities).
In addition to home-based and residential interventions, Italy offers several other types of respite care services aimed at reducing caregiver burnout and improving quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients:
- Daycare Centres (Centri Diurni)
Daycare centres provide semi-residential support where the assisted person spends part of the day in a structured, supervised environment. - Emergency or Crisis Respite Care
In cases of urgent need—such as sudden caregiver illness, hospitalisation, or family emergencies—emergency respite care is available. - Respite through Volunteering and Community Programmes
In some regions, volunteer organisations and community-based programmes offer additional forms of respite by providing trained volunteers who can visit the care recipient’s home for a few hours to offer relief to the caregiver. - Online and Remote Support
While it is not direct physical respite, online platforms offering virtual caregiver support, such as counselling, scheduling, and emotional help, allow caregivers to manage their responsibilities more easily.
The following section contains an overview of temporary respite care options for caregivers.
What respite care services are there in italy?
The following overview contains instructions and services through which respite care for people with disabilities and care givers can be accessed in Italy.
Respite Shelters – Relief month
A “relief month” or “relief shelter” refer to a short period of time, usually one month or less, during which a non-self-sufficient person is cared for in a specialised facility. This type of temporary care is offered for several reasons, including:
- Respite care for the caregiver. The main function of respite hospitalisation is to give a break or a period of rest to the family caregiver. During this time, the caregiver can take a break, go on holiday, or manage other commitments without worrying about the ongoing care of the dependent person.
- Temporary care. The relief month can also be requested in case of temporary need, such as hospitalisation or illness of the caregiver. In these situations, hospitalisation provides professional care for the dependent person in a safe and equipped environment.
- Recovery or rehabilitation. Sometimes respite hospitalisation is used to facilitate the recovery of a dependent person who needs a period of rehabilitation or post-hospital care in a specialised facility.
Respite hospitalisation usually takes place in assisted living residences (RSAs), nursing homes, or other facilities specialising in long-term or post-acute care.
Click on this link for more information about the respite hospitalisation.
Admission Criteria.
Social rehabilitation day care centre (Day care centre)
A Social Rehabilitation Day Care Centre is a facility that offers daytime services and activities to support the social, psychological, and physical rehabilitation of individuals, particularly those with disabilities, the elderly, or people recovering from illness. These centres provide structured care during the day, including therapeutic, recreational, and social activities, to foster independence and improve well-being.
Services provided by these centres include: physical therapy, cognitive exercises, social interaction to help individuals maintain or improve their functional abilities; activities designed to enhance social skills, reduce isolation and promote a sense of community among participants; temporary relief for informal caregivers, allowing them to take a break during the day while their loved ones are cared for in a safe environment.
Click on the following link for information about the service: What is a day care centre .
More info here.
Progetto Sollievo (Relief Project)
The Progetto Sollievo is a regional initiative introduced in regions like Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. The project is designed to provide temporary relief services to caregivers of people with disabilities, particularly those with dementia or other cognitive impairments. The project offers both home-based and facility-based respite care, giving caregivers the flexibility to take breaks while ensuring their loved ones receive continuous care.
Click on this link for more information on the project in Veneto region.
Good practices
Apply for relief services to your municipality
Each municipality makes relief services available to people with disabilities. They are accessed by applying to the relevant social service department, which will assess requirements and needs.
Summer stays for people with disabilities
Opportunities offered by ANFFA.
Resources
Guide to access the caregiver support service in Bologna
What to do to access the support service for family caregivers (Bologna)
Connected topics
What is Verhinderungspflege (respite care) and who can get it?
Just as with Pflegesachleistungen (Care Benefits in Kind) (ambulatory care services) or the Pflegegeld (Care Allowance) (income support), the person you are caring for must be entitled to a care level 2 – 5 to receive respite care. Find out how to apply for a care level here (ambulatory care services).
If you as a carer are unable to care due to illness, holiday or similar issues, you can apply for respite care. With respite care, it is possible for the individuals in need of care to stay at home while you are temporarily (!) unable to care for them. You can hire someone privately to provide care for a maximum of 6 weeks per calendar year and pay up to approx. €1.650 (July 2024). The amount increases by around €1.800 per calendar year if you do not use other services you are entitled to, like Kurzzeitpflege (short-term care). You can also use professional support from an ambulatory care service if you are unable to find someone privately.
Tip. If you make full-time use of respite care when, for example, you are on holiday, Care Allowance will be reduced by 50% for this period. However, if you only make use of respite care on an hourly basis because you are only temporarily absent due to a leisure activity or something else, Care Allowance will not be reduced at all!
Please note that until July 2025 a carer must have provided assistance for at least 6 months (Vorpflegezeit/ pre-care period) before claiming the benefit for the first time.
In the following section you can find more tips and suggestions on respite care and services offering it.
What Verhinderungspflege (respite care) services are available in Germany?
There are around 17,100 ambulatory care services in Germany. Most of them also offer respite care services, although this type of care if mainly provided by close relatives or friends.
Ambulant care services
Various online services can be used to search for a suitable ambulatory care service. You can use keywords and search for yourself, but there are also some databases you can access.
Health insurance providers offer such services. Adicional info here.
The Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre) provides information on what to look out for in outpatient care contracts.
Respite care by private individuals
Respite care is mainly provided be relatives, neighbours and friends.
Please note that if first- or second-degree family members – such as children, grandchildren, children-in-law or people living in the same household as the person in need of care – take over respite care, payments are lower. In this case, in fact, payments cannot exceed the value of the Pflegegeld (Care Allowance) for 6 weeks, i.e., 1.5 times the monthly Care Allowance.
Click here for detailed information about respite care, tips and suggestions as well as sample letters to use to apply for respite care.
Good practices
Day or night care in semi-residential facilities
If you are unable to provide regular care due to work or other commitments, partial inpatient care in day or night care facilities is an option. This type of care can be claimed in full in addition to the Pflegegeld (Care Allowance) and Pflegesachleistungen (Care Benefits in Kind). A combination of Care Allowance and/or Care Benefits in Kind and semi-residential care allows caregivers to receive temporary relief without losing any entitlement to Care Allowance or Care Benefits in Kind!
Tip. Costs for accommodation and meals as well as the investment costs are generally not covered by care insurance. This can add up to around €50 per day. You can use the Entlastungsbetrag (Support allowance) of €131 per month to cover these costs (at least in part).
Kurzzeitpflege (short-term care) in fully residential facilities
Short-term care may be an option if home care cannot be provided temporarily. Individuals with care grades 2 to 5 are entitled to short-term care in fully inpatient care facilities for up to 8 weeks per calendar year. As at July 2024, costs are covered up to approximately €1800. This amount can be increased to around €3,400 per calendar year if the respite care is not used. Unlike respite care, short-term care can be claimed immediately, with no prior care period required.
Tip. Short-term care can also be provided in facilities for people with disabilities if, for example, these are more suitable for the person in need of care because of their age.
Therefore, you do not depend on nursing homes for the elderly. Negotiate this with your care insurance provider!
Outlook. From July 2025, there will be a joint annual contribution for respite and short-term care. The pre-care period requirement will be abolished.
Resources
Respite care: holiday/ sickness cover
General information on respite care at home is also provided by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Current level of benefit entitlements from long-term care insurance
Here you can find the current level of benefit entitlements from the social care insurance.
Home care: Care by relatives or other volunteers
Information about home care.
Connected topics
What is respite care (descanso do/a cuidador/a) and why is it necessary?
Caring for someone in need can be a very demanding task, both physically and mentally. Sometimes, the conditions at home are not suitable for providing the necessary care. Respite care offers short-term relief for you, as an informal caregiver, allowing you to take time for yourself while the adult with care needs and disabilities is cared for professionally.
You may seek professional services from health care facilities, residential care homes, adult day care centres, or in-home services. The type and duration of respite care depend on the needs and personal situation of both you and the care recipient.
YoungCare aims to provide some available services, good practices and materials that may be of interest when considering caregivers’ respite care in Portugal.
What national respite care services are there?
Portugal has a few free respite care services available listed down below.
Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados – RNCCI [National Network of Integrated Continued Care]
The RNCCI, in its general scope (excluding cases related to mental health), includes the following types of care services:
Unidades de Convalescença (UC) – Convalescence Units
These units provide care for up to 30 days to individuals who no longer require hospitalisation but, due to sudden illness or worsening of a chronic disease or disability, require health care that cannot be delivered at home due to its frequency, complexity, or duration.
Unidades de Média Duração e Reabilitação (UMDR) – Medium-Term and Rehabilitation Units
These units offer care for 30 to 90 days to users who have temporarily lost their autonomy but have rehabilitation potential and require health care and social support that cannot be provided at home due to its frequency or duration.
Long-Term Maintenance Units (ULDM)
These units offer care for 90 days of more and are intended for users with chronic conditions or processes, varying levels of dependency, and complex care needs, who cannot be supported at home or in other types of settings. The units provide social support and maintenance health care to prevent and slow dependency, promote comfort, and enhance quality of life. ULDM units may also offer you, as a caregiver, rest stays of up to 90 days per year.
Integrated Continuing Care for Mental Health (CCISM)
CCISM addresses varying degrees of psychosocial disability and dependency resulting from severe mental illnesses. It integrates services such as Autonomy Training Residences, Maximum Support Residences, Moderate Support Residences (more information in the “Housing options” section), Socio-Occupational Units (more information in the “Sports” and “Ambulatory Care Services” sections), and Home Support Teams (more information in the “Ambulatory Care Services” section).
This website displays the residences and units’ part of RNCCI.
Cuidadores - Pausas breves para descanso (Caregivers - Short breaks)
Cuidadores offers the Short Breaks service, providing home care through trained and supervised volunteers. This way, carers can benefit from 2 hours a week to a fortnight to rest, while the adult with care needs and disabilities is looked after by these volunteers.
Visit their website to contact them or receive more information.
Good practices
Informal caregiver status and support measures for informal carers and care recipients
Portuguese legislation on informal caregivers also mentions areas concerning caregivers respite care. Click on the link for detailed information.
Resources
Guide to Informal Caregiver Status
This guide approaches many topics of interest for informal carers, including full information about the legislation on respite care.
How to access respite care for caregivers within RNCCI
On this page you can read more about how to access respite care for caregivers through RNCCI.
Connected topics
How do respite care services support both people with disabilities and their caregivers?
Respite care services offer essential support for both people with disabilities and their caregivers by providing temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. Caregiving for a person with disabilities can be physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. Respite care provides caregivers with much-needed breaks, allowing them time to rest, recharge their batteries, and tend to their own needs. Continuous caregiving without breaks can lead to burnout, stress, and exhaustion.
Respite care helps prevent caregiver burnout by offering regular breaks which, in turn, improve the quality of care provided to individual with disabilities. Respite care offers individuals with disabilities opportunities for socialisation, participation in activities, and exposure to new experiences outside their usual environment. This contributes to their overall well-being and quality of life. During respite care periods, individuals with disabilities are cared for at home or in a safe and supportive environment, ensuring their well-being while their primary caregivers take time off.
Respite care services often offer specialised support tailored to the needs of young people in need of care. This may include assistance with personal care, medication management, therapy, or recreational activities, ensuring continuity of care and meeting specific needs. Respite care helps family members to maintain balance and harmony by providing relief to primary caregivers. It strengthens family relationships by reducing stress and tension associated with caregiving responsibilities, fostering healthier family dynamics.
Respite care services can connect families with additional resources, support groups, or counselling services, providing them with additional assistance and networking opportunities to navigate the challenges of caregiving.
Respite care services are invaluable for both people with disabilities and their caregivers, promoting well-being, preventing burnout, and ensuring that both parties receive the support they need to live their situation.
What national respite care services are there in Lithuania?
Respite care services vary according to city and district, and are tailored to individual needs and preferences. Respite care services are provided in institutions although some districts arrange respite care at home.
Informacija apie atokvėpio paslaugas (General information about respite care)
“Korio” teikiamos atokvėpio paslaugos [Respite care provided by Korys]
Here young people in need of care and their caregivers will find information about respite care, what kind of team provides this service, what kind of target group can apply for it.
Click here for information about respite care for young people in need.
“Vijos” teikiamos atokvėlio paslaugos (Respite care provided by Vija)
Here young people in need of care and their caregivers will find information about respite care, what kind of team provides this service and what kind of target group can apply for it.
Click here for information about respite care for young people in need.
Good pratices
Respite care at home or institutions
Respite care services in Joniskis.
Respite care services provided in Panevezys.
Resources
Connected topics
What if I need a break?
Many informal caregivers have described their responsibilities as demanding and heavy. Often the needs of the care recipient take priority, leaving little space for the needs of the caregiver or recognition of their important role. To counter the physical, mental, and financial pressure you may feel, informal care support (aka respite care services) is incredibly important. Yet, Dutch statistics show that many informal caregivers do not know what is available to them or have trouble applying for support. This is mainly due to the complexity of the Dutch regulatory system.
To receive the right support, you are often required to navigate a complex bureaucratic labyrinth. But know that help is available and that there are services to help you access it.
This module contains a step-by-step guide on respite care options in the Netherlands. You can find out how to apply for them and how they can be financed.
What respite care services are there in the Netherlands?
If you are unsure about choosing the right respite care service, how to arrange it, or how to finance it, the following step-by-step guide can help you.
There are three types of respite care services:
- Light respite care. An activity which you as an informal carer can join, such as group walks or holidays.
- Aanwezigheidszorg (Attendant care). A professional stays at your home so that you can have some time off.
- Daycare. Your loved-one (care receiver) goes to a facility during the day, for instance a community centre or a care farm.
- Logeeropvang (overnight stay). A place where the person you are looking after can spend one or more nights, like a care hotel or a host family.
These different types of respite care are financed under different laws (see legal framework for more in-depth information on the different laws):
- Respite care light: Wmo
- Aanwezigheidszorg: Wmo or Health Insurance Act (Zvw, additional coverage)
- Daycare: Wmo, Wlz or Youth Act
- Logeeropvang: Wmo, Zvw, Wlz or Youth Act
As it can be difficult to determine which respite care service best serves your needs, there are some tools and websites to help you make an informed decision.
Click on the links below for more information on respite care:
How respite care is arranged depends on the type of respite you need and the law under which your care is organised (Wmo or Wlz). An infographic is available listing the different regulations and requirements (link below).
A distinction is made between collective and custom provisions. Collective provisions are services available to multiple users while custom provisions are tailored to individual needs. To access custom provisions, the care recipient must first obtain a care indication.
You can request a Wmo indication at the Wmo point of your municipality, or, if the care recipient needs 24-hour care or supervision, you can request a Wlz indication at the CIZ. For custom provisions, you can contact the Wmo point of your municipality or the Wlz zorgkantoor (care office) of your region.
For collective provisions, no indication is needed, and you can arrange care support directly with a care organisation. All light respite care services are collective and can be used without having to meet special requirements.
There are a number of organisations to choose from. You can find an overview on the website of MantelzorgNL (link below).
Alternatively, you can receive aid from a volunteer, by contacting the volunteer centre of your municipality (link below).
Links:
Respite care for adults can be financed under the Wmo (Social Support Act), Wlz (Long-term Care Act), or ZvW (Health Insurance Act). The exact requirements depend on the type of respite care, the law under which it is organised, and whether you are using a collective or custom provision (see step 2).
Collective provisions and custom provisions for individuals with a Wmo indication are financed (partly) by the municipality. Provisions for individuals with a Wlz indication (which are always custom in nature) are financed under the Long-Term Care Act. If you use a Pgb (Personal Budget), respite care services can be paid with your Pgb. In some cases, a co-payment is required. You can consult the infographic for the specific details or use a tool to calculate your co-payment (links below).
Some health insurance providers reimburse respite services through their additional policy if, for example, you want to take a holiday or if you are ill. You can find a list of these health insurance providers below.
If your respite is organised by volunteers, it can be free of charge.
Links:
Good practices
Handen in huis arranges 24-hour respite care services using volunteers.
Saar aan Huis is a mediation organisation for private caregiving, with branches throughout the Netherlands. They arrange dedicated caregivers—called Saars—for senior citizens living at home who need support. Saars have experience working with and for vulnerable older adults, including those with dementia or Parkinson’s. By hiring a Saar, informal caregivers can receive some much needed relief.