respite care: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal, medical, social services
Quick answer
What does “respite care” mean?
Temporary professional care for a dependent person, allowing the regular caregiver a break.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Temporary professional care for a dependent person, allowing the regular caregiver a break.
Short-term relief care provided for elderly, disabled, or chronically ill individuals, typically arranged to give their usual family or primary carers a period of rest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard and common in both varieties, but may be more frequently encountered in official/state healthcare contexts in the UK (e.g., NHS).
Connotations
Neutral to positive in both, associated with support and relief. In the US, may have stronger associations with paid, private services.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to established statutory services under local authority and NHS frameworks.
Grammar
How to Use “respite care” in a Sentence
[someone] arranges respite care for [dependent person][caregiver] needs respite care[service] provides respite careVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “respite care” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The local authority can help to respite-care for your mother.
- They are looking to respite-care their disabled son for a fortnight.
American English
- We need to find a service that can respite-care our father.
- The program allows families to respite-care their loved ones.
adjective
British English
- The respite-care facility was fully booked.
- She secured a respite-care placement.
American English
- They looked into respite-care options in the area.
- The respite-care service was a lifesaver.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in employee benefits literature regarding carer's leave.
Academic
Used in social work, nursing, gerontology, and public health research.
Everyday
Used by families discussing care arrangements for elderly relatives or disabled children.
Technical
Standard term in healthcare, social services, and care policy documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “respite care”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “respite care”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “respite care”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I will respite care for him').
- Confusing it with 'palliative care' or 'hospice care', which have different primary goals.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is also commonly used for parents caring for disabled children or adults caring for chronically ill family members of any age.
It can be provided by professional care agencies, residential care homes, day centres, or sometimes trained volunteers through charities.
It varies from a few hours to several weeks, but it is always temporary, not a permanent living arrangement.
It depends on the country and the individual's circumstances. It may be funded by the state/local authority, charities, or paid for privately by the family.
Temporary professional care for a dependent person, allowing the regular caregiver a break.
Respite care is usually formal, medical, social services in register.
Respite care: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛspaɪt ˌkɛə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛspɪt ˌkɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a respite from caring”
- “to give someone a respite”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RESt and a bITE of relief for the caregiver -> RES-PITE care.
Conceptual Metaphor
CARE IS A BURDEN (respite temporarily lifts it)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of respite care?