Respite Care in Kankakee, IL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Kankakee, IL: the local picture

3,433

residents 65 or older (14% of Kankakee)

60%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

48%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Kankakee County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Kankakee ZIP codes

Most older adults in Kankakee live with someone: 60% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 1,573 Kankakee residents aged 65 or older report a disability (48%) (39% in Kankakee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Kankakee ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Kankakee compared with Kankakee County and Illinois

Census figure	Kankakee	Kankakee County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	39%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.7%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	9.7%	10%
Households with no vehicle	15%	6.6%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,009	$51,634	—

Older residents in towns around Kankakee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bradley, IL	4.4 mi	2,318	40%
Bourbonnais, IL	5.7 mi	2,744	38%
Manteno, IL	10 mi	2,304	43%
Momence, IL	11 mi	648	46%
Peotone, IL	16 mi	709	29%
Beecher, IL	21 mi	742	43%

Hospices serving Kankakee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Uplifted Care	Bourbonnais, IL	4.5 mi	(815) 939-4141
Iroquois Memorial Hospice	Watseka, IL	24 mi	(815) 432-0185
Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care	Joliet, IL	26 mi	(815) 740-4104
Heartland Hospice (Frankfort)	Frankfort, IL	28 mi	(815) 469-7100
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Illinois	Tinley Park, IL	32 mi	(708) 781-4400

Nursing homes near Kankakee (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Citadel Care Center-Kankakee	Kankakee, IL	1.8 mi	4 of 5	107	(815) 933-1711
Miller Health Care Center	Kankakee, IL	2.0 mi	2 of 5	160	(815) 936-6500
Arc At Kankakee	Kankakee, IL	2.0 mi	3 of 5	51	(815) 939-4506
Arc At Bradley	Bradley, IL	3.5 mi	1 of 5	120	(815) 933-1666

Straight-line miles from the center of Kankakee. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Kankakee

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,001 monthly median income of Kankakee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Respite Care in Kankakee: common questions

Which hospices serve Kankakee?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Kankakee ZIP codes, including Uplifted Care, Iroquois Memorial Hospice, Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care.

How much does respite care cost in Kankakee?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,001 monthly median income of Kankakee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Kankakee. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Illinois.

More near Kankakee

More senior care near Kankakee

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kankakee

More for Kankakee families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Respite Care in Kankakee, IL