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Hollyhock Home Care
An older woman helps her husband stand up from the edge of the bed in their sunny bedroom

Respite care

A few hours or a few days off for the family member doing the caregiving, with someone you've already met.

Care we offer

How it helps

If you, your brother, or your other parent are doing the caregiving, you need time off too. Respite care covers you for an afternoon a week, a weekend away or a family wedding. We match one caregiver, introduce them before the first visit, and they follow your routine so your parent barely notices the change.

This may be right if

  • Your mom cares for your dad and hasn't had a day off in a year
  • You live with your parent and need one afternoon a week that's yours
  • There's a wedding, a surgery or a trip, and someone has to cover
  • You want to try home care before committing to regular visits

What a visit can include

You and your parent choose what's in the care plan. Caregivers follow it, and you can change it any time.

Whatever you usually do

  • Meals, company and the usual routine
  • Personal care: bathing, dressing, the bathroom
  • Overnight stays while you're away

Before you go

  • A meet-and-greet with the caregiver before the first visit
  • Your routine written down: meals, bedtime, what calms them
  • A note when you get back, so you know how it went

Non-medical care

What caregivers don't do here

  • Medical care or medication administration
  • Care in a hospital or facility (we provide respite in your home)

Not sure if a task is medical? Ask us at the assessment. We'd rather say no clearly than guess.

A typical respite afternoon

An example. Every plan is built around your parent's own routine.

  1. 12:00 Arrive, hear the plan for the afternoon, and you head out.
  2. 12:30 Lunch together, following your routine.
  3. 1:30 A walk, a card game or a favorite TV show.
  4. 2:45 Help with the bathroom and a rest.
  5. 3:40 Start dinner prep so the evening is easier.
  6. 4:00 You get back to a calm house and a written note.

Questions families ask

All questions
Can we book respite just once?

Yes. One-time respite is fine with a 4-hour minimum. For a multi-day stay, we like at least a week's notice so we can introduce the caregiver first.

My mom won't leave Dad with a stranger. What helps?

The meet-and-greet. The caregiver visits once while your mom is still home, learns the routine from her, and the first real respite visit happens with a face your dad already knows.

Other kinds of care

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Talk to us about respite care.

Book a free in-home assessment, or call and tell us what's going on. No pressure, no long contract, and a written plan with the weekly cost before anything starts.

Hollyhock Home Care helps people live at home in Madison and Dane County. We give non-medical care: help with daily life, personal care and company. We don't give nursing or medical care, and we will always tell you when your parent needs more than we can safely give.

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