Worn out caring for a loved one on hospice? Learn how hospice respite care works in Las Vegas, what Medicare covers and how to plan a short stay.
Caring for someone you love through a serious illness is an act of devotion. It can also wear you down. If you are caring for a loved one on hospice at home in Las Vegas, Henderson or nearby, you do not have to do it alone. Hospice includes short breaks for family caregivers, called hospice respite care. Here is how it works.
Last updated: October 29, 2026. Medically reviewed by: LARA VANESSA PENA, APRN, FNP-BC, DAPWHc
Signs You May Need a Break
Caregivers often put their own health last. The National Institute on Aging notes that caregivers are less likely to get checkups and have a higher risk of sleep problems, health conditions such as high blood pressure, and mental health concerns. Common signs of caregiver stress include:
- Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or anxious
- Becoming easily angered or impatient
- Trouble sleeping, or not getting enough sleep
- Feeling lonely, sad or hopeless, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Frequent headaches, pain or other physical problems
- Skipping meals, exercise or your own personal care
- Drinking more alcohol or misusing drugs, including prescription medicines
If several of these sound familiar, it may be time to ask for help. Taking a break is not giving up. It is part of caring well. If stress symptoms last, see your own doctor.
If you ever feel you might harm yourself or are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.
What Is Hospice Respite Care?
Respite care gives the usual caregiver, like a spouse, adult child or friend, time to rest. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, your loved one can stay for a short time in a Medicare-approved facility, such as a hospice inpatient facility, a hospital or a nursing home, while you take a break. The hospice provider arranges the stay. Respite cannot be given in an assisted living or residential care home.
Respite is available only to patients who have chosen the Medicare hospice benefit. To qualify, a doctor certifies a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
A respite stay can last up to 5 days each time. It can be used more than once, but only on an occasional basis. Families use it to sleep, travel, attend a family event or see their own doctor.
Respite is one of several kinds of hospice care. Most hospice care happens at home through routine in-home hospice care. Short inpatient stays can also be used for a different reason: managing pain or symptoms that cannot be controlled at home.
Respite Care vs. Inpatient Care for Symptoms
| Inpatient respite care | General inpatient care | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Gives the family caregiver a rest | Controls pain or symptoms that cannot be managed at home |
| Where | Medicare-participating hospital, hospice inpatient facility or participating nursing facility | Medicare-participating hospital, skilled nursing facility or hospice inpatient facility |
| How long | Up to 5 days in a row each time, on an occasional basis | Short-term, until symptoms are controlled; your hospice team decides when it is needed |
Feeling stretched thin? Call us to talk about whether a respite stay could help your family: 1-702-790-1341.
What Medicare Covers for Respite
For people on the Medicare hospice benefit, Medicare pays your hospice, which arranges and pays the facility for the respite stay. You may pay up to 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care. For example (illustration only), if Medicare approves $100 per day, you would pay $5 per day. This amount can change each year. Your total respite coinsurance is capped: it cannot be more than the Medicare Part A hospital deductible for that year. Most Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans pay the respite coinsurance in full; Plans K and L pay part of it (50% and 75%). Check your plan.
A few rules are good to know before you plan:
- Medicare pays for up to 5 days in a row. If your loved one stays longer, hospice care continues, but the family may have to pay the facility’s room-and-board charges. Ask your hospice team about costs before day 6.
- Respite is meant for loved ones cared for at home. It cannot be provided to hospice patients who already live in a facility such as a long-term care nursing home.
- If your loved one has a Medicare Advantage plan, Original Medicare covers hospice care related to the terminal illness. The Medicare Advantage plan still covers care not related to the terminal illness, as long as your loved one stays enrolled.
To learn more about costs, see our guide to hospice costs and Medicare coverage in Nevada.
How to Plan a Respite Stay
A little planning can make the stay calmer for everyone:
- Talk to your hospice team early. Let them know when you need a break, so they have time to arrange a facility.
- Share what matters. Tell the team about your loved one’s routines, favorite foods, comfort items and what calms them.
- Pack familiar things. A favorite blanket, photos, music or comfortable clothes can help your loved one feel at home.
- Keep contact information handy. Make sure the team has the best phone number to reach you, and save the hospice’s 24/7 line: 1-702-790-1341.
Other Respite Options for Nevada Families
Hospice respite is one kind of break. The National Institute on Aging notes that respite can also take place at home or at an adult day center, and family, friends or volunteers can sometimes step in for a few hours. Most private health insurance plans do not cover the costs of respite care, though some long-term care insurance plans may. In Nevada, you can call 2-1-1 or 1-866-535-5654 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.), or text your ZIP code to 898211, and ask for a Nevada Care Connection Resource Center, which can help with caregiver support and respite resources.
Our medical social workers can help you find local support.
How Quality of Life Hospice Helps
Quality of Life Hospice serves families across Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas and Centennial Hills. Our team can explain how respite care in Las Vegas works for your family and help you plan a stay. If you are still deciding between types of care, our guide to palliative care vs. hospice may help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a hospice respite stay last?
Under the Medicare hospice benefit, a respite stay can last up to 5 days each time. Respite can be used more than once, but only on an occasional basis.
Does Medicare pay for hospice respite care?
Yes, for people on the Medicare hospice benefit when the hospice arranges the stay. You may pay up to 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care. Most Medigap plans pay this coinsurance in full; Plans K and L pay part of it.
What happens if the stay lasts longer than 5 days?
Medicare pays for up to 5 days in a row. If your loved one stays longer, hospice care continues, but the family may have to pay the facility’s room-and-board charges. Ask your hospice team about costs before day 6.
Can my loved one get respite care if they live in a nursing home?
Medicare hospice respite is meant to relieve family members or others who care for a loved one at home. It cannot be provided to hospice patients who already live in a facility such as a long-term care nursing home.
Is it selfish to ask for a break?
No. The National Institute on Aging encourages caregivers to ask for help and take a break when they need it.
We Are Here for You, Too
Caring for a loved one is a lot to carry. If you are feeling worn out, please reach out. Call Quality of Life Hospice at 1-702-790-1341 (24/7) or visit our contact page. Hablamos Español.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care coverage
- CMS: Medicare & Hospice Benefits booklet (Product No. 02154)
- CMS: Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 9 (Hospice), sections 40.1.5 and 40.2.2
- National Institute on Aging: What Is Respite Care?
- National Institute on Aging: Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers
- Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division: Respite Services in Nevada
This article is for general education and is not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk with your loved one’s doctor and hospice team about their specific situation, and check current coverage with Medicare or your health plan.
