Respite Care in New Jersey: Options for Families of Adults with Disabilities

Caring for an adult family member with a developmental disability is one of the most demanding commitments a person can make. The love and dedication that families bring to this role is extraordinary — and it is also, over time, exhausting. Without consistent breaks and relief, even the most devoted caregivers burn out, and the quality of care their loved one receives suffers as a result.

Respite care exists specifically to solve this problem. In New Jersey, families of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to a range of funded respite options through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and the state’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs. Many families who qualify for these services never use them simply because they do not know they exist or how to access them.

This guide explains everything New Jersey families need to know: what respite care is, who qualifies, what types are available, and exactly how to get started through your DDD service coordinator.

What Respite Care Means

Respite care is temporary, planned, or emergency relief provided to family caregivers of individuals with disabilities. The word “respite” literally means a short period of rest from something difficult. In the context of disability services, it refers to bringing in a trained support professional — a respite worker or direct support professional (DSP) — to take over care responsibilities for a set number of hours, days, or weeks while the primary caregiver takes time to rest, attend to other responsibilities, travel, or simply recharge.

It is important to understand that respite care is not a luxury or a sign that a family is unable to handle their caregiving role. It is a recognized, medically supported service that improves outcomes for both caregivers and the individuals they support. Caregiver burnout is a documented health risk that can lead to depression, physical illness, and ultimately unsafe care situations. Respite care is the system’s answer to that risk.

Who Qualifies in New Jersey

To access state-funded respite care in New Jersey for an adult with a disability, the individual receiving services must meet specific eligibility criteria set by the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

DDD Eligibility Requirements

• Developmental disability diagnosis: The individual must have an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or another qualifying developmental disability (as defined by New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 30:6D-25) that originated before age 22 and results in substantial functional limitations in three or more major life activities.
• New Jersey residency: The individual must be a New Jersey resident.
• Age 21 or older: Adults 21 and over are served under DDD’s adult waiver programs. (Individuals under 21 may be eligible for services through the Children’s System of Care.)
• Medicaid eligibility: Most DDD-funded services require Medicaid enrollment. New Jersey has Medicaid programs specifically designed to cover individuals with disabilities who would not otherwise qualify based on income alone.

Caregiver Eligibility

Respite services are provided to support the unpaid primary caregiver — typically a parent, sibling, spouse, or other family member who lives with or provides the majority of care to the person with a disability. The caregiver must be the person’s primary informal support. Individuals who live alone without a family caregiver may be eligible for different types of in-home support services rather than traditional respite.

Types of Respite Care Available in NJ

New Jersey’s DDD system funds several distinct types of respite, each designed to meet different caregiver needs and circumstances. Understanding which types are available helps families plan effectively.

In-Home Respite

In-home respite is the most commonly used option. A trained direct support professional (DSP) comes to the family’s home and provides supervision, personal care assistance, and companionship to the individual with a disability for a set number of hours. The caregiver can be present elsewhere in the home, run errands, attend appointments, or leave the home entirely. In-home respite can be scheduled on a regular basis (e.g., every Tuesday afternoon) or used flexibly as needs arise.

Community-Based Respite

Community-based respite takes the individual with a disability out into the community — to a day program, a recreational activity, a social group, or another community setting — while the caregiver has uninterrupted time at home. This model benefits the individual as well, providing social engagement and community integration opportunities. Community-based respite may be provided at a day habilitation program, a recreation center, or through a group activity organized by a DDD-approved provider.

Emergency Respite

Emergency respite is unplanned, crisis-driven relief provided when a primary caregiver is suddenly unable to provide care due to illness, hospitalization, family emergency, or other urgent circumstances. In these situations, a DDD-approved provider steps in on short notice to ensure the person with a disability continues to receive appropriate care and supervision. Families should identify their emergency respite options before a crisis occurs, as arranging services during an emergency is significantly more stressful.

Short-Term Residential Respite

For longer caregiver absences — such as a medical recovery, a family event requiring extended travel, or a planned caregiver vacation — short-term residential respite places the individual with a disability in a licensed residential setting for a period of days to a few weeks. The individual receives all necessary personal care, meals, and support while the caregiver has an extended break. This option requires advance planning and coordination with the DDD service coordinator.

How to Access Respite Through Your DDD Service Coordinator

All DDD-funded services in New Jersey, including respite care, are authorized through an Individual Support Plan (ISP) developed in partnership with a DDD service coordinator (also called a support coordinator). The process works as follows:

Counties Priority Groups NJ Serves

Priority Groups NJ provides DDD-funded respite and support services across northern and central New Jersey. We currently serve families in the following counties:

If your county is not listed above, contact us anyway — our service area is expanding and we may be able to serve you or refer you to an appropriate provider in your area.

How Priority Groups NJ Provides Respite

Priority Groups NJ is a licensed Division of Developmental Disabilities provider offering in-home and community-based respite care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across northern New Jersey. Our approach to respite is built around three principles: consistency, communication, and genuine care.

• Consistent staffing: We match each individual with a direct support professional based on compatibility, communication style, and shared interests — and we work hard to keep that same DSP assigned to the same client, so the individual builds a real relationship with their support worker rather than meeting a different stranger at each visit.
• Trained DSPs: All of our direct support professionals complete DDD-required training as well as our internal competency program, which covers crisis prevention, first aid and CPR, behavior support, and disability-specific care protocols. We do not place untrained workers.
• Family communication: We keep primary caregivers informed. After each respite visit, caregivers receive a summary of how the time went, any notable observations, and any follow-up items. We believe families should always know what happened while they were away.
• ISP coordination: Our team works directly with DDD service coordinators to ensure services are properly authorized, documentation is complete, and billing is handled correctly. Families should not have to chase paperwork.
• Flexible scheduling: We accommodate morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend schedules to match real caregiver lives — not just standard business hours.

We understand that inviting a support worker into your home and entrusting the care of a family member to another person requires genuine trust. Our goal is to earn that trust through reliable, compassionate, and professional service from the very first visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many respite hours will my family receive?

The number of authorized respite hours varies by individual and is determined through the ISP process based on assessed caregiver need. Hours are authorized annually and can be revisited if circumstances change significantly. Your DDD service coordinator can give you the specific allocation that would apply to your situation.

Can we use respite hours if the person with a disability lives with us full-time?

Yes. Respite is designed specifically for families where the individual with a disability lives at home with unpaid family caregivers. It is one of the most important tools available to keep people supported in community and family settings rather than in institutional placements.

What if we need emergency respite and our regular provider is unavailable?

Talk to your DDD service coordinator about having a backup provider identified before a crisis occurs. Priority Groups NJ maintains on-call capacity for urgent scheduling needs and can often accommodate emergency requests within the same day for existing clients in our coverage area.

Can family members be paid to provide respite care?

In some cases, yes. New Jersey’s Supports Program allows certain family members to be employed as direct support professionals through a fiscal intermediary arrangement. This is a complex area with specific eligibility rules. Your DDD service coordinator can advise whether this option is available in your situation.

Does the person with a disability have any say in choosing their respite worker?

Absolutely. Person-centered planning is a core principle of New Jersey’s DDD system. The individual with a disability, to the extent they are able to express preferences, has input into who provides their supports. At Priority Groups NJ, we involve the individual in the matching process and take their preferences seriously.