Respite service means that government departments purchase services to provide temporary assistance to low-income families or families with special difficulties who have disabled and mentally handicapped elderly, so that those who take care of their relatives at home all the year round can have a short rest.
The respite service is the street nurses being sent to door-to-door service from time to time so that Ms. du can have time to go to the hospital to see a doctor or have a short rest.