Over the coming years, as an ageing population with multiple chronic illnesses increases, the number of carers and paid carers is set to decrease. There is, therefore, an urgent need to understand what types of services are most supportive in helping to sustain caring relationships. Respite care is frequently mentioned as a key factor in supporting family carers and improving their quality of life but there is a lack of research to support its efficacy. This paper will present a conceptual map of respite care in order to promote a greater understanding of the multiple tensions that the palliative care respite literature reveals. As learning more about carer's needs and the complexities of the caring relationship develops, it is an appropriate time to map the key messages from the literature to help us understand what respite care does actually mean to palliative care service users and carers.