Respite

What is Respite?

By definition, respite is a short period of rest or relief from something difficult. Respite provides temporary relief for caregivers. This relief tends to be in terms of hours, but can extend to days or weeks depending on the situation. Respite care can be given in the home environment, day center environment, or a residential environment. Below details different ways to obtain respite.

Respite Grant Through CurePSP

Image Source: CurePSP Quality of Life Respite Grant

CurePSP offers the CurePSP Quality of Life Respite Grant that covers 100 hours of professional, agency-based in-home care.

Quick Overview:

Qualifications
- Individual needing care must be US based, have PSP, CBD, or MSA, and being cared for at home
- Can only receive the grant once
- Individual needing care is not receiving more that 15 hours a week of assistance
- Caregivers have a combined Income of less than $90,000 and the individual needing care does not have long-term care insurance
Grant Deadlines: July 31, October 31, January 31, April 30
The application can be found HERE for July 2025

Respite Grant Through County or State

Respite grants can potentially be offered by your local county or the state that you live in. You can find information about respite care offered by these entities by searching "[County] Office for the Aging" and/or "[State] Office for the Aging" in your preferred search engine. In New York, for example, New York State Office for the Aging directly funds 8 respite programs that covers 32 of New York's 62 counties.

Rest with Assistance from Family and Friends

For a variety of reasons, you may not qualify for respite grants through the government or organizations like CurePSP. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a chance to rest and recharge.

Family and friends are often looking for meaningful ways to support you and your loved one, and one powerful way they can help is by giving you the gift of time. Do not hesitate to ask someone you trust to sit with your loved one for a few hours so you can run errands, attend a doctor’s appointment, or simply take a breather.

As a caregiver, it’s essential to build a support system and lean on others when you need help. Asking for a break is not a burden; it’s a necessary act of care for yourself.

A Caregiver's Personal Experience

I’ve been caring for my mom for the past six months: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unfortunately, our family doesn’t qualify for respite grants through CurePSP or our county’s Office of Aging. A couple of weeks ago, I opened up to my brother about how I was feeling. I was nearing burnout and knew something had to change.

We had an honest conversation about what I needed, and together we concluded that I needed a few days away. My family came together to arrange coverage, and now I’m preparing for a short rest trip to Disney World in the coming weeks.

If I hadn’t spoken up, I never would’ve known that this kind of break was even possible. It takes vulnerability to admit when you need help, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking for it.

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