Respite Care in Ottawa, IL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Ottawa, IL: the local picture

3,024

residents 65 or older (16% of Ottawa)

68%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in LaSalle County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ottawa ZIP codes

Most older adults in Ottawa live with someone: 68% 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 1,023 Ottawa residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (32% in LaSalle County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Ottawa ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Ottawa compared with LaSalle County and Illinois

Census figure	Ottawa	LaSalle County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	2.5%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	8.6%	10%
Households with no vehicle	7.1%	6.0%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,980	$52,903	—

Older residents in towns around Ottawa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Marseilles, IL	8.9 mi	813	43%
Oglesby, IL	14 mi	669	30%
Sheridan, IL	14 mi	173	30%
LaSalle, IL	14 mi	1,797	35%
Streator, IL	16 mi	2,679	37%
Peru, IL	16 mi	2,340	46%

Hospices serving Ottawa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Illinois	Peru, IL	16 mi	(815) 220-0021
In-Home Care Connection Hospice Services	Princeton, IL	31 mi	(815) 993-5374
Compassus-Chicago	Dekalb, IL	38 mi	(815) 220-1390
Lightways Hospice And Serious Illness Care	Joliet, IL	47 mi	(815) 740-4104
Rock River Hospice And Home	Sterling, IL	55 mi	(815) 288-3673

Nursing homes near Ottawa (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pavilion Of Ottawa	Ottawa, IL	1.3 mi	4 of 5	135	(815) 434-7144
Pleasant View Luther Home	Ottawa, IL	1.9 mi	4 of 5	90	(815) 434-1130
La Salle County Nursing Home	Ottawa, IL	4.0 mi	4 of 5	79	(815) 433-0476
Goldwater Care Marseilles	Marseilles, IL	5.8 mi	1 of 5	103	(815) 795-5121

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa

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 41% of the $3,832 monthly median income of Ottawa 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 Ottawa: common questions

Which hospices serve Ottawa?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Ottawa ZIP codes, including Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Illinois, In-Home Care Connection Hospice Services, Compassus-Chicago.

How much does respite care cost in Ottawa?

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 41% of the $3,832 monthly median income of Ottawa 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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa

More senior care near Ottawa

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ottawa

More for Ottawa 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 Ottawa, IL