How far ahead should I book a respite stay?

Availability varies by community and season, but calling a few weeks ahead gives you the best shot at a room. Some communities can accommodate shorter notice if a bed happens to be open.

Is respite care covered by insurance?

Standard health insurance and Medicare generally don't cover custodial respite stays in an assisted living or memory care setting. Long-term care insurance policies sometimes do, so check the policy details if the family has one.

Can a respite stay turn into permanent placement?

Yes, many families use a respite stay specifically to test whether a community is a good fit before signing a permanent lease. Ask the community whether any part of the respite fee applies toward a future move-in.

What's the difference between respite care and adult day programs?

Respite care includes overnight stays with round-the-clock supervision, while adult day programs are daytime-only and the person returns home each evening. Families dealing with a multi-day gap in caregiving need the overnight option.

Respite care and short-term memory care stays

Respite care is a stay of days to a few weeks, not a permanent move. Families use it when a primary caregiver needs surgery, travel, or simply a break, or when they want to see how a loved one with dementia adjusts to a community setting before committing to a permanent placement.

Not every memory care community offers respite stays, since it means holding a room for someone who isn't a long-term resident. When you call, ask specifically whether short-term or trial stays are available, how far in advance you need to book one, and whether the room and floor are the same ones used for permanent residents.

Ask what's included in a respite stay: meals, medication management, and participation in the daily activity program should all be part of it, the same as for a permanent resident.
Find out the minimum and maximum stay lengths the community allows.
If you're using the stay as a trial before permanent placement, ask whether any deposit or fee converts toward move-in costs if you decide to stay.

The communities below rank among the top memory care providers in the area and are a good starting point for calling around on availability.

What it costs

Respite stays are usually billed at a daily rate rather than folded into a monthly fee, and that daily rate tends to run higher per day than the equivalent cost of permanent residency, since the community is holding the room on short notice without a long-term commitment. Ask each community whether the daily rate includes care level add-ons or whether those are billed separately based on the resident's needs assessment.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for memory care.

1. Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center
4.6★ · 480 reviews

84
2. Complete Care at Kimberly Hall North
4.6★ · 191 reviews

83
3. Arden Courts (Farmington)
4.7★ · 48 reviews

81

Browse all providers

FAQ

How far ahead should I book a respite stay?: Availability varies by community and season, but calling a few weeks ahead gives you the best shot at a room. Some communities can accommodate shorter notice if a bed happens to be open.
Is respite care covered by insurance?: Standard health insurance and Medicare generally don't cover custodial respite stays in an assisted living or memory care setting. Long-term care insurance policies sometimes do, so check the policy details if the family has one.
Can a respite stay turn into permanent placement?: Yes, many families use a respite stay specifically to test whether a community is a good fit before signing a permanent lease. Ask the community whether any part of the respite fee applies toward a future move-in.
What's the difference between respite care and adult day programs?: Respite care includes overnight stays with round-the-clock supervision, while adult day programs are daytime-only and the person returns home each evening. Families dealing with a multi-day gap in caregiving need the overnight option.