While hospice patients may also need respite care, the two are not the same. At a respite care facility for the elderly, caregivers provide short-term relief for family members responsible for the patient. Rather than a long-term solution, respite care gives full-time caregivers the chance to relax before continuing their care duties. Hospice care, on the other hand, includes long-term support for a person who can no longer look after themselves. Unlike respite care, hospice care is a more permanent solution and involves round-the-clock access to services.