In-home dementia respite care in Florida, so you can step away
Dementia respite care at home: a familiar companion stays with your loved one while you rest, run errands, or see your own doctor.
In-home dementia respite care gives the family caregiver a planned break while a familiar companion stays with your loved one at home. In Florida, Dementia Companions provides respite visits from about 2 hours up to a full day with one consistent companion screened for dementia care experience; our rate is $35/hour for 40+ hours a week, so call us about shorter schedules. State-funded ADI respite and adult day centers can complement private visits.
What in-home respite care for dementia means
Respite care is a planned break for the person doing the caregiving.
With in-home respite, your loved one stays in familiar surroundings with a familiar companion while you leave the house, sleep, see your own doctor, or simply sit somewhere quiet. Familiar rooms matter: a change of place can trigger confusion or agitation for someone with dementia, and home avoids that.
Our respite visits use the same model as all our care: one consistent companion, screened for dementia care experience, so the person who covers for you next month is the same one who covered for you this month. Visits run from about two hours to a full day.
What the companion handles
- Company, supervision and a calm routine while you’re out
- Meals, snacks and fluids
- Activities your loved one enjoys
- Medication reminders at the usual times
- A note waiting for you when you get back
What it doesn’t cover
- Giving medication or any nursing task
- Hands-on personal care such as bathing or toileting (add a licensed home health agency or aide; our companion can work alongside them)
- Overnight medical monitoring
- Clinical care after surgery or during an acute illness
If your loved one has nursing needs, keep the nurse or home health agency in place and use the companion for the hours around them.
What a six-hour Saturday respite looks like
Here is a common pattern: a daughter in Tampa who cares for her mother on weekdays and needs one long block each weekend.
| Time | Companion and your loved one | You |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | Hand-off: five minutes on how the night went and anything new | Leave once your mother is settled with coffee |
| 9:30 | Breakfast dishes together, then a garden walk before the heat builds | Errands, a haircut, groceries for yourself |
| 11:00 | Music from her twenties; folding towels | Lunch with a friend |
The afternoon is quieter for both of you:
| Time | Companion and your loved one | You |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 | Lunch, fluids, medication reminder | A nap or a long walk |
| 1:30 | Rest; a familiar movie in the cool living room | Your own time |
| 3:00 | Visit note written; calm wind-down | Home to a rested parent and a short summary |
Taking the break is often harder than arranging it. If guilt is stopping you, read taking a break without the guilt.
Who dementia respite care is for
- Spouses who are the only caregiver and haven’t had an afternoon off in months
- Adult children juggling work, kids and a parent who can’t be left alone
- Caregivers who need cover for their own medical appointments or a surgery recovery
- Families covering a gap when a regular helper is away
- Anyone noticing the warning signs of caregiver burnout
Not sure where you stand? The free caregiver burnout check takes about two minutes.
How matching works for respite
Respite works best when your loved one already knows the person. We send 3-5 matched video profiles within 48 hours of your first call; you choose; and one primary companion becomes your regular cover. We suggest a first visit while you’re still home, so your loved one meets the companion with you in the room. If the fit is off, the rematch is free.
Making the hand-off smooth
A few habits make respite easier on everyone, especially in the first month:
- Keep the same day and time each week, so the visit becomes part of your loved one’s routine instead of an event.
- Leave a short list: today’s mood, meals already eaten, anything that has been upsetting lately.
- Say a simple, cheerful goodbye and go. Long goodbyes tend to raise anxiety rather than ease it.
- Read the visit note when you return, and tell us what you’d like done differently next time.
Many caregivers find the first two or three breaks feel strange. That usually passes once you see your loved one is calm and the companion is familiar.
Cost of in-home respite
No hidden fees, no contract. Our rate is $35/hour for 40+ hours a week; call us about shorter schedules. Our cost calculator compares in-home care with Florida facility costs.
Florida respite programs and adult day centers
Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI). The Florida Department of Elder Affairs runs the ADI, which funds respite for caregivers of people 18 and older with probable Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia that affects daily activities. ADI respite can be in-home, facility-based, emergency, or extended care of up to 30 days. It is delivered through Florida’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging, so availability and waitlists vary by county. Start with the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 (1-800-96-ELDER), which connects you with your local Aging and Disability Resource Center. Our Florida programs guide covers the ADI and related options.
Adult day centers as a complement. Adult day programs offer supervised group activities outside the home. CareScout’s 2025 survey put Florida’s median adult day health cost at about $75 a day. Many families mix the two: two center days for social time, plus a companion at home on the days the center is closed, in the late afternoon when sundowning hits, or when your loved one is too tired to go. For example, two center days cost about $150 a week. Our rate is $35/hour for 40+ hours a week; call us about shorter schedules. Compare the trade-offs in adult day care vs. in-home respite and read how day centers can help.
Hurricane season. If you plan to stay with relatives during an evacuation, a familiar companion can help with packing and keep your loved one calm while you handle logistics.
Respite near you
- Miami-Dade
- Fort Lauderdale & Broward
- Palm Beach County
- Naples & Collier
- Fort Myers & Lee
- Sarasota & Manatee
- Tampa & Hillsborough
- Orlando & Orange County
- Jacksonville & Duval
See the glossary entry on respite care for a short definition, or the Spanish-language page on cuidado de relevo.
Book your first real break
Get 3-5 matched companion profiles within 48 hours, then pick the person who will cover for you. $35/hour for 40+ hours a week.
Watch a caregiver before you choose
Families watch video interviews like these and choose their companion. No one is sent to your parent's home until you have watched them and said yes.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions?
Talk it through with us. A free call about your family's situation, with no obligation.
Call (689) 333-6079Send us a message- Screened for dementia care experience
- Florida ADRD training before the first visit
How often should a dementia caregiver take respite?
There is no single rule. Many caregivers start with one regular block each week, because a predictable break is easier to protect than an occasional one. If you are exhausted or your own health is slipping, more is reasonable.
Does Florida pay for respite care for dementia?
Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, with availability that varies by county. Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 to ask about eligibility and waitlists. Dementia Companions itself is private-pay.
Can respite be overnight or for a whole weekend?
Our visits run from about two hours to a full day. For multi-day or overnight respite, ask your Area Agency on Aging about ADI facility-based or extended respite of up to 30 days.
Is in-home respite better than adult day care?
Each fits different people. Adult day suits someone who enjoys groups and travels well; in-home respite suits someone who becomes anxious outside the house. Many families use both. See the comparison.
What if my loved one refuses to stay with someone new?
Introduce the companion while you are still home, keep visits short at first, and use the same companion every time. Familiarity usually builds within a few visits.
Don't see your question? Call (689) 333-6079 or send us a message.