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What does a respite care provider do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a respite care provider do
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Respite care provider responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real respite care provider resumes:

  • Aid and facilitate higher functioning patients reach their fullest potential while managing behavioral episodes as needed.
  • Certify as head agency trainer for CPR and first aid.
  • Assist with medication, ADL's, and recreational activities within the home.
  • Promote care for disable individuals, helping with their ADL's and IADL's.
  • Complete ongoing mandatory training and periodic renewal of specific certifications such as CPR, first aid, OIS, etc.
  • Provide emotional and physical support to caregivers of children with autism.
  • Utilize active participation in recreational activities to maximize communication skills in client with autism.
  • Provide caring companionship to developmentally disabled/elderly residents.
  • Possess CPI training and applies behavioral principles in all interactions with clients.
  • Provide caring companionship to developmentally disabled/elderly residents.

Respite care provider skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Respite Care Providers are proficient in CPR, ABA, and Autism. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Respite Care Providers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • CPR, 15%

    Certified as head agency trainer for CPR and first aid.

  • ABA, 15%

    Used the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) technique to provide therapeutic services for children with autism.

  • Autism, 10%

    Utilized active participation in recreational activities to maximize communication skills in client with autism.

  • Child Care, 10%

    Provided child care for infants and toddlers in Child Care environment.

  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 9%

    Used Applied Behavior Analysis (A.B.A.)

  • Developmental Disabilities, 9%

    Provided for adults with developmental disabilities; their individual needs of physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Most respite care providers use their skills in "cpr," "aba," and "autism" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential respite care provider responsibilities here:

Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a respite care provider to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "home health aides and personal care aides must adhere to specific rules and protocols and carefully follow instructions to help take care of clients." Additionally, a respite care provider resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "set appointments child care detailed notes"

Integrity. Many respite care provider duties rely on integrity. "home health aides and personal care aides should make clients feel comfortable when they tend to personal activities, such as helping a client bathe," so a respite care provider will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways respite care provider responsibilities rely on integrity: "managed to obtain and maintain friendships and trust with otherwise unsociable service recipients * cpr certified * med admin certified"

Interpersonal skills. respite care providers are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to respite care provider responsibilities, because "home health aides and personal care aides must work closely with clients." A respite care provider resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "constructed interventions target specific individualized goals related to interpersonal skills, independent living skills, and coping skills. "

Physical stamina. A big part of what respite care providers do relies on "physical stamina." You can see how essential it is to respite care provider responsibilities because "home health aides and personal care aides should be comfortable performing physical tasks." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical respite care provider tasks: "provided supervised care to clients with intellectual and physical disabilities. "

See the full list of respite care provider skills

Choose from 10+ customizable respite care provider resume templates

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Respite Care Provider Resume
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Compare different respite care providers

Respite care provider vs. Companion

A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients. They also monitor the patients' medication, prepare their meals based on a medical professional's prescription, support them on their daily activities, respond to the patients' needs and special requests as allowed, and report any developments to their family or guardians. A companion must be compassionate enough to extend physical and emotional support, depending on the client's condition.

If we compare the average respite care provider annual salary with that of a companion, we find that companions typically earn a $2,473 higher salary than respite care providers make annually.Even though respite care providers and companions are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require cpr, developmental disabilities, and direct care in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a respite care provider are more likely to require skills like "aba," "autism," "child care," and "applied behavior analysis." On the other hand, a job as a companion requires skills like "companionship," "patients," "home health," and "provide emotional support." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Companions really shine in the non profits industry with an average salary of $30,973. Comparatively, respite care providers tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $28,248.companions tend to reach similar levels of education than respite care providers. In fact, companions are 3.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Respite care provider vs. Aide

Aides are personal employees of their clients who commonly have health issues that render them unable to do certain tasks. They help out their clients with activities they may need assistance in. They may do personal errands such as grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking. They also provide care for their clients by helping them bathe, dress, brush their teeth, and other personal hygiene activities. Aides also help their clients walk, sit, and eat if their clients' motor functions are compromised. Aides are expected to be patient, caring, and trustworthy.

Aide positions earn higher pay than respite care provider roles. They earn a $1,020 higher salary than respite care providers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Respite care providers and aides both require similar skills like "cpr," "aba," and "applied behavior analysis" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, respite care provider responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "autism," "child care," "behavior analysis," and "autistic children." Meanwhile, an aide has duties that require skills in areas such as "patients," "compassion," "home health," and "customer service." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Aides may earn a higher salary than respite care providers, but aides earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $27,848. On the other hand, respite care providers receive higher pay in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $28,248.In general, aides achieve similar levels of education than respite care providers. They're 1.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Respite care provider vs. Direct support staff

The direct support staff is an individual who takes responsibility for the overall care of people with developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals work directly with developmental illness patients in long-term health care facilities. They perform their jobs as home health and companion care providers who assist their clients in their daily movements and actions. It is their duty to ensure the comfort and safety of their clients. Also, they encourage behaviors and attitudes which strengthen community inclusion.

An average direct support staff eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of respite care providers. The difference in salaries amounts to direct support staff earning a $4,495 higher average salary than respite care providers.By looking over several respite care providers and direct support staff resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "direct care," "community outings," and "independent living." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a respite care provider is likely to be skilled in "cpr," "aba," "autism," and "child care," while a typical direct support staff is skilled in "direct support," "excellent interpersonal," "team-oriented environment," and "transport clients."

Direct support staff earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $30,215. Comparatively, respite care providers have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $28,248.direct support staff typically earn similar educational levels compared to respite care providers. Specifically, they're 3.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Respite care provider vs. Homemaker

Homemakers specialize in performing daily tasks related to cleanliness, organization, and other household routine activities such as cooking and laundry. Furthermore, a homemaker may also be responsible for looking after the care or welfare of children or the elderly. Among the duties may revolve around managing their schedules and assisting them in basic hygienic needs such as bathing, dressing, and feeding if necessary. A homemaker can also take charge of budgeting, often having to purchase groceries regularly and pay bills.

Homemakers tend to earn a lower pay than respite care providers by an average of $185 per year.While their salaries may vary, respite care providers and homemakers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "cpr," "child care," and "medical appointments. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between respite care providers and homemakers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a respite care provider might have more use for skills like "aba," "autism," "applied behavior analysis," and "developmental disabilities." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of homemakers require skills like "home health," "nutritious meals," "run errands," and "home management. "

In general, homemakers earn the most working in the health care industry, with an average salary of $27,475. The highest-paying industry for a respite care provider is the health care industry.The average resume of homemakers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to respite care providers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Types of respite care provider

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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