Respite care is mainly offered through community organizations or residential facilities. The most common respite care programs are in-home care and adult day services. In-home services offer a range of options, including companion services, personal care, household assistance, and skilled care services to meet specific needs. In-home helpers can be employed privately, through an agency, or as part of a government program. Adult day services provide participants with opportunities to interact with others, usually in a community center or facility.
Staff lead various activities such as music programs and support groups.
Transportation and meals are often provided. This setting may be appropriate for persons in the early stage of Alzheimer's who can still care for themselves independently and live alone safely but have difficulty managing an entire house. Most nursing homes have services and staff to address issues such as nutrition, care planning, recreation, spirituality, and medical care. Many facilities have special care units designed to meet the unique needs of people with dementia. In these facilities, a person may receive all of the different levels of care on one campus but may need to be moved between buildings to receive different services.