Respite care is short-term care given to a hospice patient by another caregiver, so that a family member or friend who is the patient’s caregiver can rest or take time off.
This type of care was created to allow caregivers time away from administering care, with the goal of helping to relieve caregiver stress and, at the same time, fill the needs of the individual receiving care.

Respite care or temporary care may be based in the community or in an institution.
1. Residential respite: the person cared for is looked after by someone else for a while, either in residential or nursing care, or on holiday.
2. Domiciliary respite: someone comes into the patient’s home and takes over care for a while (for a few hours or sometimes overnight) so the carer can go out or have some time to themselves.

Schemes of respite care are sometimes called "Breakaway" or "Friendship" schemes.

Adapted from Public Service Information provided by the Citizens Information Board. Internet. Accessed on 22 August 2011.