Caring for a veteran at home is demanding, and burnout is a real risk. VA respite care pays for someone else to take over for a while so the family caregiver can rest, travel or handle their own needs.
What VA respite care is
Respite care gives the veteran care while the caregiver takes a break. It can be provided in the home, at a VA adult day health care center or in a VA Community Living Center or community nursing home; for example, the veteran could spend a day at an adult day center, or stay a few days in a nursing home while the caregiver is out of town1.
Respite care is generally available for up to 30 days each calendar year1.
Who qualifies
Respite care is part of VA’s standard medical benefits package, so every enrolled veteran is eligible if VA finds a clinical need and the service is available locally2. Not every VA medical center offers every program, so ask a VA social worker what exists near you.
Respite from community providers also requires community care eligibility1. The veteran’s family caregiver may also qualify for the VA Caregiver Support Program.
What it costs
After the first 21 days of extended care in a 12-month period, daytime respite carries a copay of up to $15 a day in 2026, depending on service-connected status and finances reported on VA Form 10-10EC; many veterans owe nothing34. See VA long-term care copays.
Overnight respite in a nursing home carries up to $97 a day after the first 21 days3.
How to arrange it
Who respite is designed for
VA describes respite as being for veterans who need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or fixing meals, veterans who are isolated, and families where the caregiver is experiencing burden1. It can be combined with other home and community services, such as adult day health care or a home health aide1. VA’s rule defines respite as care of limited duration, given intermittently to a veteran with a chronic illness who lives mainly at home, to give the family caregiver relief3.
The three ways to use it
| Option | Good for | 2026 copay after 21 days |
|---|---|---|
| Home health aide comes to the home | Caregiver errands, appointments, a few hours off | Up to $15 a day |
| Adult day health care center | Caregiver needs time at home alone | Up to $15 a day |
| Short nursing home stay (CLC or community nursing home) | Caregiver travel, surgery or illness | Up to $97 a day |
Source: VA respite page1; 38 CFR 17.1113; VA copay rates 20264.
Overnight respite in a nursing home should be scheduled in advance1.
Worked example
A daughter caring for her father, a veteran with no service-connected rating, plans a 5-day trip and also wants one free afternoon a week. VA arranges a 5-night stay in a Community Living Center and a weekly aide visit. Extended care days count toward the 21 copay-free days in a 12-month period, so if this is his first extended care, these days carry no copay; once they’re used, the nursing home days could cost up to $97 each and the aide days up to $15, limited by his available resources on VA Form 10-10EC34. If he had any compensable service-connected rating, there’d be no copay at all3.
Step by step
- Confirm enrollment in VA health care5.
- Ask the primary care team or social worker for a respite assessment1.
- Complete VA Form 10-10EC to learn the copay1.
- Book overnight stays early, since they must be scheduled in advance1.
- Plan the year, since respite is generally capped at 30 days per calendar year1.
Common mistakes and other help
- Waiting until the caregiver collapses. Respite is meant to prevent burnout, and overnight stays need advance booking1.
- Missing community care eligibility. Respite from a community agency or nursing home also requires community care eligibility1.
- Overlooking caregiver programs. The Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-32746; see Caregiver Support Program.