International Experiences in Respite Care and Insights for China: A Scoping Review Based on Health System Framework

Abstract Background As China faces the rapid aging challenge, integrating global best practices into respite care systems is of great urgency. Methods A systematic review was conducted using “Respite Care” and the four-dimension framework of Health System (service delivery, financing and payment, resource supply and regulation) across PubMed, CNKI, and government portals through February 20, 2025. From 483 records, 23 studies were selected and analyzed. Results Analyses revealed diverse respite care models in Europe, North America, Australia. Service delivery: The U.S. NFCSP offers adult day care and emergency respite, Denmark’s “All In One” flexible home visits, and employment support initiatives in the UK and Sweden. Financing and payment: Australia’s RRC caps costs under federal funding, Germany splits insurance costs between employers and employees, while the U.S. relies on federal and state funding. Resource supply In terms of workforce, Canada’s PRISMA program integrates community-based respite care via case managers, while the U.S. PACE model deploys multidisciplinary teams. Regulation The UK’s Care Act and the U.S. Lifespan Respite Care Act ensure quality and accessibility. Implications China’s pilot programs in Beijing and Hangzhou suggest future priorities: scaling community respite centers with diversified services; building professional-informal caregiver networks; expanding long-term care insurance coverage through public-private financing; and establishing quality standards with third-party evaluations. Conclusion International experiences emphasize four-dimension system synergy for respite care. China’s path forward lies in adapting these insights to its familial care traditions, fostering a government-led, market-engaged, and socially supported respite care model to cope with the surging wave of population aging.