Adult Day Care vs. Respite Care: Which One Fits?

If you are caring for a spouse or parent at home, you have probably heard both terms. They solve different problems.

The short version

• Adult day care covers daytime hours. Your loved one attends for a half or full day and comes home each evening.
• Respite care is a short stay, day and night, in an assisted living home. It lasts days or weeks.

Choose adult day care when

• You work, or need regular hours each week to yourself.
• Your loved one is safe at home overnight with you there.
• They are lonely or under-stimulated during the day.
• You want ongoing support, not a one-time break.

Choose respite care when

• You will be away overnight or longer.
• You are recovering from your own illness or surgery.
• Your loved one is coming out of the hospital and isn't ready for home.
• Nights have become the hard part: wandering, falls, or broken sleep.
• You want to see how they do in assisted living before deciding on a move.

How they compare

• Schedule. Day care is chosen by the day and can run every week. Respite is booked for a set period.
• Cost structure. Day care is typically a daily rate. Respite is typically a daily or weekly rate that includes the room, meals, and care.
• Paperwork. Both need medication information and physician forms. Respite usually needs more, since the home takes on overnight care.
• Adjustment. Day care is a gentle start. Many families begin there.

Using both

Plenty of families use day care weekly and book a respite stay once or twice a year for travel. When the same home offers both, your loved one already knows the caregivers and the building, which makes an overnight stay much easier.

Heritage Oaks offers adult day care from 7 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and respite stays in private suites when one is available. Read more about adult day care in Tucson and how respite stays work, or call 520-999-0797.