Caring for a parent or spouse at home is meaningful work, and it is also tiring. Respite care means someone else steps in for a while, so you can rest, work, see your own doctor, or simply breathe. Taking a break is not giving up. It helps you keep going.
This guide explains the kinds of respite care available to families in DuPage County, how to tell when you need a break, how to plan one, and where to find help.
What respite care is
Respite care is short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break. It can last a few hours, a full day, or a few weeks. While you are away, your loved one still gets help with meals, daily routines, and company.
Three kinds of respite care
- In-home respite. A caregiver comes to your loved one’s home. The routine, the bed, and the kitchen stay the same, which can be easier for people living with memory loss.
- Adult day programs. Your loved one spends the day at a center with activities, meals, and supervision, then comes home in the evening. This can suit people who enjoy company and can travel.
- Short stays away from home. Some assisted living and memory care communities accept short stays while a family caregiver travels or recovers from surgery.
Signs you may need a break
Caregiver stress builds slowly, so it is easy to miss. You may need respite if you notice that:
- You feel tired most of the time, or you sleep too much or too little.
- You feel worried, sad, or easily irritated.
- You have stopped doing things you used to enjoy.
- You keep putting off your own doctor visits.
- Headaches or other aches come more often.
If several of these sound familiar, it is a good time to plan a break and to talk with your own doctor about how you are feeling.
How to plan a respite break
- Decide what kind of break you need. A few hours each week to work or rest? One long day? A week away?
- Write down the daily routine. Include meals, medication reminder times, naps, favorite activities, what helps when your loved one is upset, emergency contacts, and any instructions from the doctor.
- Meet the caregiver first if you can. A short visit while you are still home helps your loved one feel at ease and lets you walk through the routine together.
- Start small. A first break of a few hours lets everyone settle in before a longer one.
- Plan how you will hear how things are going. Then let yourself rest.
Paying for respite care
- Private pay. Respite care is often paid privately, by the hour or in short packages. At European Service, Respite Care is private pay, with short-term packages and no long-term contract required.
- Long-term care insurance. Your policy may include a respite benefit. Ask the insurer what it covers, or ask your care coordinator to check it with you.
- Caregiver support programs. If you care for someone 60 or older, or for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease, AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois runs a Family Caregiver Support Program that includes respite services. Call them to ask what is available.
- If your loved one needs ongoing help, not just a break. Eligible seniors enrolled in Medicaid may receive In-Home Services at no cost, based on eligibility and assessed need. Our Paying for Care page explains how families pay for care.
Local resources for DuPage County caregivers
DuPage County Senior Services
The county’s caregiver resource center: help finding caregiver support, adult day programs, and respite.
Call (630) 407-6500
AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois
The Area Agency on Aging for DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and nearby counties, based in Lombard. Its Family Caregiver Support Program includes respite services.
Call (630) 293-5990 or (800) 528-2000
Eldercare Locator
A national service that connects families with local help for older adults.
Call (800) 677-1116
ARCH National Respite Locator
A national directory of respite programs, searchable by state.
How European Service can help
European Service provides in-home Respite Care across DuPage County from our headquarters in Lombard. A carefully selected caregiver follows the routine your loved one already knows, from a single afternoon to a few weeks. We can usually begin care within 48 hours, or later if you’d like to meet your caregiver first. Care is scheduled around your care plan, including evenings, weekends, and overnight.
Call our Lombard office at (630) 785-2521, Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or request a free care assessment.