You can’t be in two places at once. Most Wheaton caregivers learn this the hard way: catching the 7:12 Metra into the city, then rushing home to prepare dinner and manage evening medications for a parent who lives with you or just a few blocks away off Naperville Road.
Respite care gives you someone trustworthy to take over for a few hours, overnight, or a full week, so you can take a break without worrying about who’s looking after Mom or Dad.
Assisting Hands Home Care provides in-home respite care throughout Wheaton, including Danada, Arrowhead, Scottdale, Briarcliffe, Seven Gables, College Avenue, and the Downtown Wheaton area.
Who Can Use Respite Care in Wheaton
Family caregiving is part of everyday life for many Wheaton families. According to 2020–2024 American Community Survey estimates, approximately 17.5% of Wheaton residents are age 65 or older. Across Illinois, more than 2.2 million adults provide care to a family member or friend with complex medical conditions or disabilities. About 62% of those family caregivers also hold a paid job, making it difficult to balance work, family responsibilities, and caregiving.
The situations that lead families to look for respite care often look different, but the need for a break is familiar.
Families bringing a parent home after rehabilitation
Some families are preparing to care for a loved one after inpatient rehabilitation at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton or a hospital stay at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in nearby Winfield. The first few weeks at home can involve medication reminders, help with mobility, meals, and personal care. When the family caregiver is also working full time, having someone available to help during the day can make a real difference.
Spouses who have become full-time caregivers
Others are spouses who have been caring for their husband or wife for years. They may not need help every day, but they still need time to attend their own medical appointments, run errands, visit friends, or spend an afternoon at Cantigny Park. A respite caregiver can step in for a few hours so they don’t have to arrange every outing around their partner’s care needs.
Adult children who need to travel or take time away
Some caregivers live close to their parents in Wheaton, while others have family responsibilities of their own. A daughter may want to visit her children out of state for a week, but her father has early-stage dementia and cannot safely stay home alone. Multi-day respite care gives families the option to arrange ongoing support at home while they are away.
Assisting Hands Home Care provides in-home respite care in Wheaton, IL, with flexible scheduling for a few hours, overnight stays, or multiple days. Whether you need occasional help or coverage while you’re away, our caregivers can assist your loved one with daily activities and routines at home.
In Home Respite Care with Assisting Hands in Wheaton, IL
When our caregivers come to your loved one’s home, they pick up the daily responsibilities you normally handle. This may include helping with:
- Bathing and personal care: Helping with showers, bathing, grooming, and oral hygiene.
- Getting dressed: Assisting with choosing clothes and getting dressed for the day or bedtime.
- Bathroom needs: Providing help with toileting and incontinence care.
- Meals: Preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and helping with eating when needed.
- Medication reminders: Reminding your loved one when it’s time to take their prescribed medications.
- Getting around the house: Helping with walking, transferring from a bed or chair, and moving around safely.
- Companionship: Spending time together, talking, playing games, reading, or enjoying favorite activities.
- Household chores: Washing dishes, doing laundry, changing bed linens, and tidying up after meals.
- Appointments and errands: Accompanying your loved one to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other local outings.
- Daily routines: Helping your loved one stay on schedule with their usual activities throughout the day.
We’ll discuss your loved one’s needs and routine before care begins so our caregiver knows what to expect and how to help while you’re away.
(See the Full List of Home Care Services)
Schedule a Consultation With Assisting Hands For Respite Care Services
We begin with a free in-home visit to get to know you and your loved one. During the visit, our care manager talks with you about the kind of help your family needs and what a typical day looks like. We’ll ask about things like medication schedules, bathing and dressing, mobility, meal preferences, and any routines or behaviors we should know about.
Once we understand your needs, we’ll put together a care plan and work out a schedule that fits your family. You can arrange respite care for:
- A few hours on certain days of the week
- Overnight care visits so you can get a full night’s sleep
- Weekends or several days while you’re traveling
- Temporary support while you recover from surgery or an illness
Whenever possible, we try to keep the same caregiver coming to your home. This gives your loved one time to get comfortable with the person helping them. It also means the caregiver gets to know their preferences, daily habits, and the little details that make each visit easier.
