The idea behind a respite house began with a simple truth: caregivers need care, too. When you spend your days tending to the needs of others, it’s easy to forget your own.
Taking respite gives caregivers the space to rest, reflect, and restore their energy. It’s not about stepping away from the role; it’s about sustaining it with compassion for yourself. At Hope Grows, we’ve seen how even a short pause in a nurturing space can make a lasting difference in a caregiver’s well-being.
What Is a Respite House?
A respite house is a place of rest and renewal explicitly designed for caregivers. While many forms of respite focus on the care recipient, a respite house shifts the focus to the caregiver’s well-being.
It offers a peaceful environment where caregivers can take a break from their responsibilities and tend to their own emotional and physical needs, including access to mental health counseling services that support their overall well-being. This kind of space gives caregivers the opportunity to recharge without guilt, knowing that their role is recognized and supported.
At Hope Grows, the Iris Respite House was created with this purpose in mind. Surrounded by healing gardens and natural beauty, it provides a calming setting for reflection, gentle activities, and therapeutic support. Caregivers can spend time resting, connecting with others, or simply enjoying quiet moments of stillness.
A respite house supports the idea that caring for others begins with caring for yourself. It gives caregivers the space to breathe, reflect, and return to their roles with a renewed sense of strength and clarity.
The Growing Need for Respite Houses
Across the country, an estimated 43.5 million people provide care for a loved one. These caregivers reduce hospital visits, manage medications, schedule appointments, and advocate for those they love, all while saving the healthcare system billions of dollars each year.
However, the emotional and physical toll of caregiving is real. Many caregivers juggle these responsibilities with full-time jobs, health concerns, and financial strain of their own.
Without moments of rest, burnout becomes a real risk, which is why Hope Grows also offers virtual counseling services to meet caregivers where they are, even from home.
Respite care was created to respond to this need. Respite houses stand as a compassionate response to the question: Who cares for the caregiver? At Hope Grows, we believe the answer begins with a door that’s always open and a place where healing is possible.
When to Consider a Respite House
Every caregiving journey is unique, but there are certain moments when stepping away to rest is not just helpful, it’s essential. You might consider a respite house if:
You’re Feeling Emotionally Drained & Overwhelmed: If stress, sadness, or anxiety are becoming part of your daily life, taking time away can help restore balance.
You’re Tired and Can’t Sleep Through the Night: Exhaustion can cloud your thinking and impact your health. A few days of uninterrupted rest can make a real difference.
You’re Noticing Signs Of Burnout: If you’re feeling detached, irritable, or constantly depleted, these are signs that your well-being needs attention.
You’re Recovering From Illness or Grief: Caring for others while carrying your pain can be too much. A respite house offers space to heal.
You Want to Reflect and Rest: Sometimes you just need time to step back, breathe, and reconnect with yourself.
You Seek Connection With Other Understanding Individuals: Being around other caregivers or professionals in a supportive environment can remind you that you’re not alone.
A respite house isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of wisdom in knowing that caring for others starts with caring for yourself.
Hope Grows Mission
Hope Grows began to offer caregivers a respite from the “physical, psychological, and spiritual stress associated with the role of providing care.”
The organization has professional mental health counselors and volunteers who offer caregivers personal assistance, therapeutic services, and resources they need, no matter the state of their finances. Hope Grows also offers a peaceful place to rest and the opportunity to engage in such spirit-lifting activities as working in a garden.
In doing so, Hope Grows continues a long tradition of respite houses and respite care. The idea has grown in popularity over the years as many studies have shown that respite care can provide welcome relief and improve the physical and mental state of the caregiver.
Even a break of a few hours every so often can prove helpful. However, the best approach is to plan regular times for respite care, making it part of your routine. That can help caregiving from becoming too overwhelming. Caregivers are one of the great treasures in this country. If you believe in the importance of giving back to those who give so much, consider supporting respite care through a donation to Iris Respite House. It’s a meaningful way to ensure caregivers continue receiving the compassion they so freely offer others.
At Hope Grows, our Iris Respite House was created with caregivers in mind. It’s a healing environment where you can unplug from the demands of caregiving and reconnect with your own heart. When you’re ready to rest, reflect, or simply be held in a space of understanding, reach out — we’re here. You deserve that kind of care, too.
Prior to my stay at the Iris Respite House located at 183 Shafer Road, Moon Township, PA 15108 (the “Property”), I hereby acknowledge that I have read and agree to the following terms and conditions:
Open Flame Policy:
I understand the Iris Respite House is a No Open Flame facility. The use of any kind of fire is prohibited on site except in the designated smoking area. The use of any kind of fire (candles, fire pits, and smoking outside of designated area) on the Property, other than smoking in the designated smoking area, is prohibited.
Swim at Your Own Risk/Liability Release
I understand the Property has an indoor pool available for guest use. I acknowledge swimming poses inherent risks (slips, falls, drowning, serious injury, or death) and understand that the pool area is not supervised. I agree to use the pool at my own risk and release Hope Grows and its staff from any liability for accidents, injuries, or damage that may occur while using the pool facilities. I also understand that (1) glass is not allowed in the pool area at any time, (2) consuming alcohol while swimming is prohibited; and (3) swimming while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prohibited.
Overnight Stays
I acknowledge that an overnight manager is not on site and that I may also be the sole overnight guest on the Property. I accept full responsibility for my safety and well-being during that time.
Staff Responsibilities
I understand that staff of Hope Grows at the Property during my stay are not trained or designated as emotional support providers, counselors, or companions and cannot provide counseling/counseling-like conversations. While staff may be present on the Property their role is limited to facility operations and safety. If emotional/mental health support is desired, I understand that it can be requested upon clinical availability, but any such emotional/mental health support would be entirely separate than my overnight stay.
Clinical Support
I understand that I may request an intake call with the Hope Grows Root of Good Care Counseling team prior to my stay. Intake calls for this request are completed during regular business hours (M-F between 8 am – 4 pm). If my request falls outside normal business hours, the intake team will respond within 48-72 hours. I understand that the making, processing, and/or response to any such request is unrelated to, and entirely separate from, my overnight stay.
Release of Liability
I, on behalf of myself, anyone staying with me, and the successors, heirs, and assigns of any of us/them, hereby release waive, and discharge Hope Grows, its owners, directors, employees, agents, and representatives (collectively, “the Releasees”) from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, actions, and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by the Participant, or any property belonging to the Participant, while on or using the Property or its facilities.
Indemnification
The Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees from any and all losses, claims, damages, or expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that may arise from the use of the Participant’s use of the Property its facilities, and/or the services received from the Participant on the Property.
I acknowledge that I have read and understood the terms of this liability release form. I voluntarily assume all risks associated with the open flame policy and swimming facilities at the Iris Respite House.
