Caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s is never just one role. It often means being a companion, a manager, a nurse, a cook, and a safety monitor—sometimes all in the same day. It can be deeply meaningful work. It can also be exhausting.
That’s where respite care comes in.
Respite care is short-term care that gives primary caregivers a break. Its purpose is in the name: respite care brings a short period of rest and relief to caregivers who are on call for their loved ones around the clock. Respite care might last just one afternoon, or it might span several days or weeks. It can happen at home, in an adult day program, or in a residential care community. At San Gabriel Memory Care, respite stays range from 1 to 30 days and are available year-round at both of our locations: Highland, IL, and Godfrey, IL.
For caregivers supporting someone with memory loss, respite care can be the difference between coping and crashing. And for the person receiving care, it’s an opportunity to experience a structured, memory-friendly setting where days follow familiar rhythms and routines.
What Respite Care Looks Like at San Gabriel
Respite care at San Gabriel includes all the same support and structure as full-time residency. That means:
- A private apartment in a secure, calm environment
- Three home-cooked, family-style meals each day
- Personalized help with bathing, dressing, and daily tasks
- Medication management and health monitoring
- Access to therapy and wellness services if needed
- Cognitive and physical activities tailored to the resident’s interests
- Supervision by staff trained in memory care services
San Gabriel is not just a place to stay, nor is it merely “babysitting”—it’s a community built to support memory health.
Who Can Benefit from Respite Care?
Respite care is designed for anyone who normally receives care from a family member or unpaid caregiver. It’s especially helpful when that care involves complex memory needs. Here are a few common reasons families use respite care:
- A caregiver needs time to recover from illness or injury
- Family is traveling, moving, or facing a temporary disruption at home
- The care partner is experiencing burnout or fatigue
- There’s a need to assess how a loved one responds to a structured memory care setting
At San Gabriel, respite stays also offer families a clearer view of what ongoing memory care services might look like down the road. It can be a helpful step in the decision-making process—a way to gather insight without long-term commitment.
Why Respite Care Matters for Dementia Caregivers
Caring for someone with dementia brings a different kind of fatigue. Even when things are going smoothly, it requires constant alertness. You’re managing medications, redirecting conversations, assisting with personal care, and planning meals—all while staying emotionally available and remaining engaged with the rest of your life. Over time, it takes a toll.
Respite care services offer a pause. Not just to catch your breath, but to restore some balance. That might mean:
- Sleeping through the night without interruption
- Running errands or handling tasks you’ve postponed
- Spending time with friends or family outside the home
- Scheduling your own appointments or health checkups
These aren’t luxuries—they’re part of what helps caregivers remain steady. And when you return from a break feeling rested and more grounded, you can show up with more patience and presence going forward.
What Makes Memory-Focused Respite Different?
Not all respite care is equipped for dementia support. What makes memory-focused respite care unique is the structure, training, and environment behind it. At San Gabriel, our communities in both Highland and Godfrey are purpose-built for memory care services. That means small group sizes, familiar layouts, soothing visual cues, and staff who understand how to communicate with and support memory-impaired adults.
Everything—from the way meals are served to how activities are structured—is rooted in memory care best practices. It’s not about filling time. It’s about making that time feel familiar and meaningful.
Planning a Respite Stay
Respite care can be planned in advance or arranged on short notice, depending on your situation and our availability. We welcome families to reach out, whether they’re planning for a vacation next month or facing an unexpected need this week. Our teams in both Highland and Godfrey work closely with families to learn routines, preferences, and health needs to ensure a smooth transition.
A short-term stay can last as little as one day or up to a full month. There’s no minimum requirement and no long-term contract. Just care when it’s needed.
Building Sustainability Into Care
Good caregiving isn’t just about being available—it’s about being able. And that means building in time for breaks, recovery, and your own health.
Respite care isn’t a sign that you’re falling short. It’s a strategy to keep going. When caregivers have reliable support, they’re better equipped to make thoughtful decisions, to stay calm in difficult moments, and to preserve the relationship they have with the person they’re caring for.
If you’re beginning to feel stretched thin or just want to plan ahead for time off, respite care may be the right next step. At San Gabriel, we’re here to support both the person receiving care and the one providing it.
Whether you need respite care in Godfrey, IL, or respite care in Highland, IL, our doors are open. Our respite care services are grounded in the same calm, respectful, memory-focused approach we offer to all our residents. Because support should never feel like a last resort, it should feel like part of the plan.