Respite Care in Waukegan, IL: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waukegan, IL: the local picture

10,770

residents 65 or older (12% of Waukegan)

69%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Lake County)

24

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waukegan ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waukegan live with someone: 69% 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 3,376 Waukegan residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (26% in Lake County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 24 hospices serving Waukegan ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waukegan compared with Lake County and Illinois

Census figure	Waukegan	Lake County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	26%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	7.4%	10%
Households with no vehicle	8.4%	4.6%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,950	$80,242	—

Older residents in towns around Waukegan

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Park City, IL	1.5 mi	805	38%
Gurnee, IL	3.4 mi	4,725	33%
North Chicago, IL	3.7 mi	2,101	30%
Beach Park, IL	5.0 mi	2,647	33%
Green Oaks, IL	5.2 mi	1,053	38%
Gages Lake, IL	5.8 mi	1,583	27%

Hospices serving Waukegan

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Star Hospice	Gurnee, IL	3.8 mi	(847) 672-9225
Integrated Palliative And Hospice LLC	Libertyville, IL	7.3 mi	(847) 549-0588
Hospice Alliance	Pleasant Prairie, WI	11 mi	(262) 652-4400
Accord Hospice	Deerfield, IL	14 mi	(847) 780-4594
Journeycare - Deerfield	Deerfield, IL	14 mi	(844) 656-8763

Nursing homes near Waukegan (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Elevate Care Waukegan	Waukegan, IL	0.7 mi	2 of 5	265	(847) 249-2400
Waukegan Health And Rehab	Waukegan, IL	0.9 mi	4 of 5	112	(847) 244-4100
Aspyre Of Waukegan	Waukegan, IL	1.8 mi	1 of 5	115	(847) 244-6700
Claridge Healthcare Center	Lake Bluff, IL	5.8 mi	1 of 5	231	(847) 295-3900

Straight-line miles from the center of Waukegan. 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 Waukegan

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 31% of the $5,079 monthly median income of Waukegan 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 Waukegan: common questions

Which hospices serve Waukegan?

Medicare lists 24 hospices for Waukegan ZIP codes, including Star Hospice, Integrated Palliative And Hospice LLC, Hospice Alliance.

How much does respite care cost in Waukegan?

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 31% of the $5,079 monthly median income of Waukegan 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 Waukegan. 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 Waukegan

More senior care near Waukegan

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waukegan

More for Waukegan 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 Waukegan, IL