For many families with senior loved ones, caregiving has become a stressful situation. It can feel overwhelming to research short-term care options and see multiple types of care, without a clear idea of what makes them different. Respite care and in-home care provide two common short-term care options that offer different services for different situations.
This guide walks caregivers and their families through the differences in these short-term health care options in Oshkosh, including what each includes and how they compare in terms of cost. At The Courtyard at Oshkosh, short-term respite stays often lead to long-term residency when families experience the community’s care firsthand.
What Is Respite Care?
According to the National Institute on Aging, 1 in 5 caregivers suffer from depression, and this is a conservative estimate. Respite care is short-term, temporary care that gives a family caregiver time to rest, travel, or recover while their loved one receives professional support.
At a senior living community, a respite guest stays in a furnished apartment and receives the same benefits as long-term residents, for a set period. Most communities provide respite care with a minimum length of stay, which at The Courtyard at Oshkosh is 14 days. This gives residents time to settle in and helps families take a breather without worrying about moving again too quickly.
Other Reasons to Choose Respite Care
Caregiver support is not the only reason to seek respite care. After a hospital stay, some older adults are not ready to return to living alone, even though they don’t need a long-term move. A respite stay offers a supported setting during recovery, with meals, medication management, personal care, and daily activities handled by the community team.
Families may also use a respite stay to test whether a senior living community is the right long-term fit for their loved one. Often, a short-term experience with a community’s respite care services can make the long-term decision to move to a community easier for everyone.
What Is Home Care?
Home care, sometimes called in-home care, brings a paid caregiver to an older adult’s residence to help with daily tasks. Families in Oshkosh generally choose between two service types:
- Homemaker services cover cooking, cleaning, laundry, and errands
- Home health aides assist with hands-on personal care, including bathing, dressing, mobility, and other daily hygiene tasks
In either case, home care is billed by the hour, so families can control how many hours they schedule each week. Many services require a weekly minimum number of hours, so families should ask how billing works before signing off on a home care schedule.
Home Care Services in Oshkosh
Local home care agencies serving Oshkosh typically offer customized home care plans built around the number of hours a family needs, from a few hours a week to around-the-clock coverage. Home care keeps an older adult in familiar surroundings, though it does not include the built-in social activities, dining experience, or on-site care of a senior living community.
How Much Does Home Care and Respite Care Cost?
Short-term respite care is charged as a daily rate that varies by community and by the level of care a resident needs. This can make costs difficult to standardize, but families can use these numbers as a starting point in their search.
According to CareScout (formerly Genworth), the average cost of non-medical in-home care in 2025 was $35 per hour, a 3% increase from 2024. To put this in perspective, 12 hours of care per week would average $1,680 per month, while full-time care could be as much as $6,200 per month or more.
The cost of respite care in a senior living community depends on the length of the stay and the services needed. Usually, the costs are proportional to the cost of long-term assisted living for regular residents. For example, using the average monthly cost of an assisted living community in Wisconsin ($6,540), a 14-day respite stay may cost around $3,200. However, the true cost of care varies by the situation.
What Services Are Included?
Respite care and home care cover different ground. A respite stay at The Courtyard at Oshkosh folds several services into one rate, including:
- Personal care and hygiene support
- Coordination of medical appointments
- A furnished apartment with weekly housekeeping and laundry
- Three dietitian-certified daily meals prepared on-site
- Medication management and personal care from trained team members
- Scheduled transportation to appointments and outings
- Access to the full daily activity calendar and community amenity spaces
Home care, by contrast, is built around the specific tasks a family selects. Common services include:
- Assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming from a home health aide
- Help with cooking, cleaning, and errands from a homemaker
- Companionship and supervision during scheduled hours
- Reminders for medication taken independently
The main difference between these services is the care coverage. Home care covers the specific hours a family books, while a respite stay provides support around the clock within an established senior living community.
How to Choose the Right Care Option
The best choice for short-term care depends on the situation and the level of care needed. The cost of in-home care can seem lower and has the added benefit of allowing the senior to stay in their home. However, many seniors who need short-term care are ready for the long-term support of assisted living, and simply find it difficult to make such a dramatic transition.
A short-term respite stay often fits best when the older adult is recovering from an illness or hospital stay or the family caregiver needs a short rest. Sometimes, respite stays can provide a bridge between independent living with care and a long-term move to an assisted living community by showing seniors and their families what the community is like and whether it can help their situation.
Home care can make more sense when the resident only needs a few hours of help per day, with the goal of remaining in the home while adding part-time support. The care is usually limited to specific tasks such as meals and errands, but the option is there to expand the level of support over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
At The Courtyard at Oshkosh, respite stays require a minimum of 14 days. This gives residents time to adjust and lets families plan for a set period of travel or recovery.
Medicare covers respite care only in limited situations, mainly for people receiving hospice care. Most short-term respite stays and home care hours are paid privately, though long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, and Medicaid may help in some cases.
The cost of in-home care vs. respite care depends on the length of the stay and the services required. Once care reaches full days or overnight coverage, a respite stay often costs less per hour because services are folded into one daily rate.
Many families use a respite stay as a trial visit before deciding on assisted living or memory care. Residents can keep the same apartment and team if they choose to stay long-term.
Take the Next Step in Your Loved One’s Care
Short-term care gives Oshkosh families a way to support their senior loved one during a recovery period or a primary caregiver’s break. However, choosing among multiple care types can be overwhelming and lead to a mismatch between the level of care needed and the services hired.
At The Courtyard at Oshkosh, short-term respite stays provide a chance to experience a trained and dedicated care team in a real-world care situation without making a long-term commitment. Guests receive the same care and attention as long-term assisted living residents, including full care support and access to the full activities calendar.
Learn More About Respite Care in Oshkosh
Speak with our care team to learn more about respite care at The Courtyard at Oshkosh. Schedule a tour to see the community’s services and amenities firsthand before deciding what short- or long-term care your loved one may need.
