What break must occur between respite care services for a child?

• A. 10 days
• B. 5 days
• C. 30 days
• D. No break

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is that respite care should be delivered in distinct, separate episodes with a real pause between them. The required gap is 10 days, meaning there must be at least a 10-day break between one respite period and the next. This minimum pause helps ensure that respite is used as separate, time-limited support rather than an ongoing stretch of care, which supports proper planning, eligibility review, and funding processes. A shorter break wouldn’t meet the rule, a longer break would unnecessarily limit access, and having no break would violate the requirement for a pause between episodes.