Accessibility Tips

Respite Care for Adults

Respite offers short-term care to people who need continuous care so that families can take some time off from caregiving. Respite services may include overnight care for an extended period of time. Respite care enables family members to temporarily relieve the stress they may experience while providing care and can help prevent abuse and neglect.

Respite care may be provided in several ways. Services can be provided in the home by staff trained to care for people with special needs. It can also be provided outside of the home in respite group home. This will depend on the individual provider agency. Emergency respite services are also available. Families may need to access services on short notice in the event that an unexpected family emergency occurs.

Respite care is available for children and adults. Long-term care insurance or other programs offered by the State of Minnesota may cover respite care. Contact disability organizations in your area for specific respite care needs.

For more information on respite care, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

For further information*:

Contact one of the information lines listed below during normal business hours. Services are free and confidential.

Senior LinkAge Line® - 1-800-333-2433 Email the Senior LinkAge Line®

Disability Linkage Line® - 1-866-333-2466 Email the Disability Linkage Line®

Veterans Linkage Line™ - 1-888-546-5838 Email the Veterans Linkage Line™

The Senior LinkAge Line® is served by volunteers and staff of the area agencies on aging who are certified by the Minnesota Board on Aging. Staff and volunteers receive extensive training and provide objective, confidential assistance. They are independent and are not connected with any private or non-profit companies that sell products. The Senior LinkAge Line® is the federal government-certified Medicare Counseling phone service for the state of Minnesota.

The Disability Linkage Line® is served by the Metropolitan and the Southeastern Centers for Independent Living. Staff and volunteers receive extensive training, and provide objective, confidential assistance. They are independent and are not connected with any private or non-profit companies that sell products.

The Veterans Linkage Line™ is answered by trained staff at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and Crisis Connection, a Twin Cities based nonprofit mental health telephone counseling service. MDVA staff, who are veterans themselves manage the lines Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. Crisis Connection social workers field all crisis call during business hours, and all calls after hours, weekends and on holidays.

Minnesota Teens or Young Adults with questions or comments about this Web site can call (651) 431-4714; Mon- Fri, 8:00 am - 4:30pm or email: youth_corner@state.mn.us.


* Many programs in this Web site require that you have maximum income or asset limits and use the standard of Federal Poverty Guidelines (e.g. 120% of FPG). The Federal Poverty Guidelines are set by US DHHS, and take affect in Minnesota July 1st. Federal Poverty Guidelines are available at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Eligibility for many public programs is done by the Minnesota County Social Services System. To find a county eligibility office near you, put your zip code into Minnesotahelp.info and type the name of the program in the keyword search box. For example, "Medical Assistance".

NOTE: There are many other factors - besides a person's income - that go into determining whether a person is eligible for a program. It's important to talk to the provider of the program to see if you can qualify.