Caring for a loved one with dementia or other chronic conditions is one of the most demanding responsibilities a family can face. While the commitment comes from love, the physical and emotional toll of full-time caregiving can become overwhelming. That’s where respite care becomes essential—providing temporary relief that benefits both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
If you’re searching for respite care in Thousand Oaks, understanding your options, costs, and payment methods can help you make informed decisions during a challenging time.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers by arranging temporary care for their loved one. These breaks can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, giving family caregivers time to rest, attend to personal matters, work, or simply recharge.
The goal isn’t just to give caregivers a break—it’s to sustain their ability to provide quality care over the long term. Caregiver burnout affects physical health, mental wellbeing, and the quality of care that loved ones receive. Taking regular breaks through respite services helps prevent this burnout while ensuring your family member continues receiving attentive care.
Types of Short-Term Respite Care Available
Families seeking short-term respite care near them have several options depending on their specific needs and circumstances.
In-Home Respite Care
Professional caregivers come to your loved one’s home to provide assistance with daily activities, medication management, and companionship. This option works well for shorter breaks when you need to run errands, attend appointments, or take a day for yourself. The familiar environment can reduce stress for individuals with dementia who may become confused in new settings. In-home respite care typically costs between $15 to $40 per hour depending on the level of care required and caregiver qualifications.
Adult Day Programs
These programs provide daytime care and activities in a community setting, typically during business hours. Your loved one receives supervision, meals, and social engagement while you handle work or personal responsibilities. Adult day services usually cost between $25 to $100 per day depending on the location and services offered.
Residential Respite Care
For longer breaks—whether you’re traveling, recovering from surgery yourself, or simply need extended time away—short-term respite stays at residential care facilities provide 24-hour professional care. These can take place in assisted living communities, nursing homes, or specialized memory care facilities. Residential options typically range from $100 to $300 per day, though costs vary significantly based on location, facility type, and level of care required.
Understanding Payment Options for Respite Care
Most families pay privately for respite care services, though several funding sources may be available depending on your situation.
Medicare Respite Care Limitations
Medicare coverage for respite care is extremely limited. Original Medicare Part A only covers respite services when your loved one is enrolled in hospice care with a terminal diagnosis. Even then, coverage is restricted to up to five consecutive days in Medicare-certified inpatient facilities. For families caring for loved ones with dementia or chronic conditions who are not in hospice, Medicare does not provide respite care coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits, but these vary significantly by plan.
Long-Term Care Insurance
If your loved one purchased a long-term care insurance policy before needing care, it may include respite care benefits. Policy coverage varies significantly, so review the specific terms or contact the insurance company to understand what’s covered, daily benefit amounts, and any limitations that apply.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare may qualify for respite services if they meet clinical criteria. The VA provides up to 30 days of respite care annually, which can be divided between in-home care visits and overnight stays in VA facilities or community nursing homes. Contact the VA at 877-222-8387 to learn about availability in your area.
Medicaid Waiver Programs
Some states offer Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waivers that can help cover respite care costs for eligible individuals. California provides various waiver programs, though eligibility depends on income, assets, and functional care needs. Coverage for respite services varies and may be limited even when available. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for information about programs in your area.
Private Pay Options
Many families ultimately pay out-of-pocket for respite care. While this can be expensive for extended periods, the investment in caregiver wellbeing often proves invaluable. Some community-based programs and faith-based organizations offer sliding-scale fees or volunteer respite services that can reduce costs for shorter breaks.
Finding Quality Respite Care in Thousand Oaks
When you’re ready to arrange respite care, several resources can help you find appropriate services in the Thousand Oaks area.
The ARCH National Respite Locator Service allows you to search for local respite resources by zip code, including state-sponsored programs, adult day centers, and services specifically for veterans. The Eldercare Locator connects you with your local Area Agency on Aging, which can provide information about respite options and connect you with other caregiver support services.
For families seeking residential respite care, contacting local assisted living communities and memory care facilities directly to ask about short-term stay availability is often the most effective approach. Some facilities specifically accommodate respite stays and have streamlined admission processes for temporary residents.
Why Small Residential Care Homes Excel at Respite
The setting you choose for residential respite care matters significantly, particularly for individuals with dementia or behavioral challenges. Large institutional facilities with dozens or hundreds of residents can be overwhelming and disorienting for someone unfamiliar with the environment—especially when they’re only staying temporarily.
Smaller residential care homes, such as board and care facilities, provide a more personalized approach to short-term respite stays. With just a handful of residents, staff can quickly become familiar with your loved one’s specific needs, routines, and preferences. The quieter, home-like atmosphere reduces confusion and anxiety that often accompany transitions to unfamiliar environments.
For families whose loved ones display challenging behaviors related to dementia—such as aggression, wandering, or sundowning—smaller facilities with specialized behavioral dementia expertise can provide the attentive supervision and individualized care approaches that larger settings struggle to offer. The low staff-to-resident ratio means someone is always available when needs arise, rather than caregivers being spread thin across dozens of residents.
The intimate setting also allows for more flexible scheduling and personalized care plans during short-term stays. Staff in small residential homes can adjust routines, mealtimes, and activities to match what your loved one is accustomed to at home, making the transition smoother and less stressful for everyone involved.
Preparing for a Respite Care Stay
Successful respite care arrangements require advance planning. Start by identifying potential respite providers early, even if you don’t need services immediately. Having established relationships means you’re not scrambling during an emergency or at the last minute before a planned trip.
When evaluating any respite care provider, ask detailed questions about staff qualifications, training in dementia care, medication management procedures, and how they handle behavioral challenges. For residential respite, tour the facility in person and observe staff interactions with residents. Request references from other families who have used their respite services.
Prepare thorough information for the respite caregivers, including your loved one’s complete medication list, dietary restrictions or preferences, daily routines, behavioral triggers, and strategies that work well for calming or redirecting them. The more information you provide, the smoother the transition will be.
Don’t wait until you’re completely exhausted to arrange respite care. Regular, planned breaks—even brief ones—are far more effective at preventing caregiver burnout than waiting until you reach a crisis point. Many caregivers report feeling guilty about taking breaks, but maintaining your own health directly benefits your loved one by ensuring you can continue providing quality care.
The Importance of Specialized Dementia Care During Respite
Not all respite care providers have the expertise to manage complex behavioral symptoms associated with dementia. Aggression, wandering, severe confusion, and resistance to care require specialized training and experience that generic respite services may lack.
When selecting a provider for short-term respite stays, prioritize facilities with demonstrated experience in behavioral dementia care. Ask specifically about their approach to managing challenging behaviors, their staff training protocols, and their success with similar residents. The wrong environment can increase agitation and make the respite period stressful for your loved one rather than providing the safe, comfortable experience you need.
Smaller facilities often have advantages in this area because specialized training benefits all residents when the facility focuses specifically on memory care. In larger mixed-use facilities, dementia training may be inconsistent across different units or staff members.
Royal Garden Board & Care’s Approach to Respite Stays
At Royal Garden Board & Care, our locations provide a residential setting specifically designed for individuals with dementia and behavioral challenges. With a maximum of six residents, we offer the individualized attention that makes short-term respite stays feel less like an institutional placement and more like a temporary home.
Our staff brings specialized expertise in managing complex behavioral symptoms that can make respite care difficult to arrange elsewhere. Whether your loved one experiences aggression, wandering, or severe confusion, our small-scale model allows us to implement personalized care strategies quickly and effectively.
For families who need overnight respite care or extended stays lasting several days to weeks, our home-like environment provides the structure and supervision your loved one needs while you take the break you deserve. We work closely with families to ensure smooth transitions in and out of respite care, minimizing the disruption to your loved one’s routine.
Our family-owned approach means we’re available to answer questions, provide updates, and address concerns throughout your loved one’s stay. This direct communication gives family caregivers genuine peace of mind while they’re taking their much-needed break.
Taking the Next Step
Finding appropriate respite care in Thousand Oaks starts with understanding your loved one’s specific care needs and your own requirements for caregiver relief. Whether you need a few hours of in-home assistance or several weeks of residential care, options exist to provide the support both you and your family member need.
If your loved one requires specialized memory care or behavioral dementia support during respite stays, Royal Garden Board & Care can help. Our Thousand Oaks facility offers the combination of professional expertise and personal attention that makes temporary transitions less stressful for everyone involved.
Respite care isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential component of sustainable caregiving. By taking care of yourself through regular breaks, you ensure you can continue providing the loving, attentive care your family member deserves for years to come.
Contact us to learn more about short-term respite options for families in the Thousand Oaks area and how we can support your family during this challenging time. Learn more about how respite care can benefit both caregivers and their loved ones at the National Institute on Aging.