Respite care in Indianapolis gives family caregivers a planned break while a trained caregiver steps in, for a few hours, a full day or longer. Whether you care for an aging parent or an adult son or daughter with a developmental disability, respite is not a luxury. It is part of what makes caring at home possible over the long run.
Key takeaways
- Respite care is short-term care that lets the usual family caregiver rest, work, travel or simply catch up on sleep.
- It can happen at home, in the community or at an adult day program, and it can be scheduled regularly or used for one-off needs.
- In Indiana, respite is a listed service on the BDDS waivers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it is also available privately for older adults.
- Waiver rules changed in 2026, including new limits on paid family caregivers, so it helps to plan ahead with your case manager.
What respite care actually is
Respite simply means relief. A respite caregiver takes over the day-to-day support you normally provide, so that you can step away without worrying. The care itself looks a lot like what you already do: helping with meals, personal care, medication reminders, getting around the house safely, and keeping your loved one company.
What makes it respite is the purpose. The care exists for the person receiving support, but it is scheduled around the needs of the caregiver. That might mean:
- A standing Tuesday afternoon so you can keep your own medical appointments
- A weekend so you can attend a wedding in another state
- Evening coverage while you work a shift
- A few days of help after your own surgery or illness
- A regular few hours a week just to rest, which counts as a perfectly good reason
Who uses respite care in Indianapolis
Most respite care in Indianapolis falls into two broad groups of families.
Families caring for an older adult
Adult children in Carmel, Greenwood or Avon who look after a parent with dementia, Parkinson’s, heart failure or general frailty often reach a point where they have not had a full night of sleep or a free weekend in months. Private-pay respite through a home care agency lets a caregiver come to the parent’s home so routines stay the same.
Families supporting an adult with a developmental disability
Parents of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities often provide care for decades. Indiana’s Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS, often still called BDDS) funds respite through its Medicaid waivers so these families can keep going. You can read more about how that system works in our guide, What Is BDDS and How Can It Help Your Family.
How BDDS waiver respite works in 2026
Respite is a listed service on both the Family Supports Waiver and the Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) Waiver. If your family member already has one of these waivers, respite can be written into their person-centered plan with the help of a case manager, and then delivered by an approved provider.
A few 2026 changes matter for families planning respite:
- Waiver capacity and waiting lists. According to The Arc of Indiana, the Family Supports and CIH waivers reached maximum capacity in December 2025, and as of February 2026 people invited to begin the process were placed on a new waiting list.
- Limits on paid family caregivers. Waiver amendments that took effect in August 2026 cap payments to relatives and legal guardians. The state’s CIH amendment fact sheet lists respite among the few services relatives can still be paid for, with a limit of 40 hours per week across all services for each paid relative or guardian. For some families this means bringing in an outside provider for more of the respite hours.
- New assessments. Starting January 1, 2026, Indiana began using interRAI assessments in place of the older screening tool for people on the Family Supports and CIH waivers. The assessment informs service planning, so be ready to describe how much support you provide and when you need a break.
- Fewer new providers for now. An Indiana Health Coverage Programs moratorium on new waiver provider enrollment for several services, including respite, began August 1, 2026 for an initial six months. Families may find fewer new agency options during this period, so it is worth asking existing providers about availability early.
Waiver rules change often, and Indiana is planning a broader waiver redesign. Your case manager is the best person to confirm what your family member’s plan allows today.
Respite options for family caregivers of older adults
If your loved one is an older adult rather than a waiver participant, respite usually comes from one or more of these sources:
- In-home respite from a home care agency. A caregiver comes to the home for a set block of time. This keeps the person in familiar surroundings, which is especially helpful for people living with dementia.
- Adult day programs. Many central Indiana programs offer a structured day of activities and meals, and some offer financial help.
- Family, friends and faith communities. Neighbors and church members can often cover a few hours if you ask for something specific.
- Local aging resources. CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, the Area Agency on Aging for the Indianapolis region, runs an Aging and Disability Resource Center that can talk you through respite options. Their article on why caregivers need regular respite lists the resource center number.
For non-medical, in-home respite, our companion care services and personal care assistance cover the kind of everyday support that lets you step away with confidence.
Signs you need a break sooner rather than later
Caregivers often wait too long. Consider scheduling respite now if you notice:
- You feel irritable, tearful or numb most days
- You have stopped seeing friends or doing anything for yourself
- You are skipping your own doctor visits or medications
- You are sleeping poorly because you are listening for your loved one at night
- Small tasks feel overwhelming, or you are making more mistakes
If you are experiencing symptoms of depression or your own health is slipping, talk to your doctor. Getting support for yourself is part of caring well for someone else.
How to plan respite care that actually works
Start small and build trust
A first visit of three or four hours while you are still at home (or nearby) lets your loved one get to know the caregiver. Once everyone is comfortable, longer blocks feel natural.
Write down the routine
Create a one-page sheet: wake and bed times, meals and food preferences, medication schedule, mobility needs, favorite topics, what calms them, and who to call in an emergency. Good respite caregivers will ask for this, and it protects consistency.
Make it regular
Scattered, emergency-only respite helps, but a predictable schedule does more. Many caregivers find a set weekly block easier to protect than occasional days.
Ask the right questions
Before you choose a provider, ask how caregivers are screened and trained, how they handle a change in condition, who supervises them, and how you can reach someone after hours. Our guide on how to choose the right home care provider walks through more questions.
Respite care through Aken in Indianapolis
Aken Home Health and Home Care provides respite care services in Indianapolis for BDDS waiver participants and their families, along with private-pay home care for older adults across Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson and nearby counties. We can talk with you about the schedule you need, what your loved one’s day looks like, and how respite fits with any other services they receive. For questions about payment, call us to talk through your options.
Frequently asked questions
How long can respite care last?
Respite can be as short as a couple of hours or as long as several days. Private-pay respite is scheduled to fit your needs. On a BDDS waiver, the amount is set in the person-centered plan and the service budget, so talk with your case manager.
Does Medicare pay for respite care at home?
Medicare does not cover general in-home respite for family caregivers. Medicare’s hospice benefit does include short inpatient respite stays for people enrolled in hospice. For other situations, families often use private pay or state and waiver programs.
Can a family member be paid to provide respite on the waiver?
In some cases, yes. Under the August 2026 amendments, respite is one of the services relatives and legal guardians can still be paid for, subject to a 40 hour weekly limit and a reduced rate. Your case manager can confirm what applies to your situation.
Will my loved one be upset by a new caregiver?
Some people need time to adjust. Short first visits, a consistent caregiver and a written routine all help. Most families find the transition gets easier after a few visits.
Aken Home Health and Home Care serves Indianapolis and surrounding counties. Call our office at 317-734-3934 (Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm) or our 24/7 line at 574-320-4705, or request a free consultation.
