At Idaho Neuropsychology, we serve high-achieving professionals and servant leaders—people who have spent their lives solving complex problems, mentoring teams, and making strategic decisions. These are individuals who embody grit, integrity, and compassion. 

But when dementia enters the picture—especially as a parent, spouse, or loved one begins to decline—many professionally successful individuals find themselves in a profoundly unfamiliar place: caregiving for a loved one without having time to develop the necessary core competencies, and realizing that dementia care is constant, unpredictable, and emotionally consuming. 

The demands are intense. And the stakes are deeply personal. 

That’s why today, we want to talk about respite care—what it is, why it matters, and how it could be the difference between surviving this chapter and navigating it with strength, purpose, and sustainability. 

What Is Respite Care? 

Respite care is a temporary break for caregivers. It’s a structured period of rest—whether a few hours a week or a few days at a time—that allows primary caregivers to step away, recharge, and attend to their own physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. 

Respite can take many forms: 

• A trained volunteer who provides in-home support while the caregiver runs errands or rests 

• An adult day program that offers cognitive and social engagement for the person living with dementia 

• A short stay at a care facility to give the caregiver time away 

• A church-based respite program embedded within a faith community 

What all forms of respite share is a common goal: preserve the caregiver so they can continue to care for others. 

Why High-Functioning Caregivers Need Respite More Than They Realize 

Many of our patients—and their families—are deeply capable. They’ve built businesses, led teams, raised families. They’re resourceful, organized, and have succeeded in virtually every area of their lives. 

But dementia caregiving is not like leading a team or managing a project. It’s relentless. It’s deeply emotional. And it’s often invisible to the outside world. 

You’re not just helping with medications and meals. You’re watching a loved one slowly lose parts of themselves. You’re grieving the person they used to be—while still needing to meet their needs day after day. 

Here’s what we know nationally from the Alzheimer’s Association 2023 Facts and Figures report: 

• 83% of dementia care is provided by family, friends, or unpaid caregivers 

• 60% of those caregivers report high to very high emotional distress 

• Many experience depression, anxiety, physical exhaustion, and a weakened immune system 

• Others feel disconnected from their communities, faith traditions, and former identity 

Even caregivers with means, resources, and strong support systems often report feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Why? Because they weren’t trained for this. Because no one really is. 

Understanding the Emotional Toll 

It’s important to know that dementia affects far more than memory. Behavioral and emotional changes—like agitation, paranoia, and personality shifts—can be among the hardest for caregivers to witness. 

And yet, these caregivers often feel like they should be able to “handle it.” They downplay their needs. They postpone their own medical appointments. They lose sleep. They stop going to church. They decline invitations. And slowly, their world becomes smaller. 

Respite care helps reverse that. 

Respite Isn’t Weakness—It’s Wisdom 

As a clinical neuropsychologist who has worked with thousands of families, here’s what I can tell you with certainty: 

The caregiver is the captain of the ship. And if the captain burns out, the whole ship sinks. 

This isn’t about taking a break because you’re not strong enough. It’s about being wise enough to know your limits—and planning for them in advance. 

When caregivers have access to consistent, high-quality respite care: 

• They’re more likely to remain emotionally and physically healthy 

• They’re less likely to experience burnout 

• They can provide home care longer, delaying or even preventing the need for long-term residential placement 

• Most importantly, they can reconnect with who they are—not just as caregivers, but as spouses, children, professionals, and people of faith 

The Science of Emotional Memory 

One fascinating aspect of dementia care that’s often overlooked is emotional memory. While a person with Alzheimer’s may forget names, faces, or conversations within minutes, they retain the emotional imprint of positive experiences for hours or even days. 

That means even if your loved one doesn’t remember the details of a respite visit, their mood, sense of safety, and trust in others can be positively shaped for much longer. 

This is why every act of respite matters—even the ones that feel too small to count. 

Next Steps: How to Start Building Respite Into Your Life 

If you’re currently caring for someone with dementia, or anticipating that role in the near future, here are three steps to consider: 

1. Acknowledge your needs. It’s okay to say this is hard. It’s okay to need help. Start there. 
2. Explore local respite resources. This might include community organizations or faith-based programs. For a list of potential community respite services, check out: 

• Idaho Commission on Aging 
• Idaho Caregiver Alliance
• Educate yourself. We’ve created a free caregiver eBook to help families understand dementia and navigate the caregiving journey: 
  • ⬇️ DOWNLOAD DEMENTIA E-BOOK 

Final Thoughts: Respite Is an Act of Leadership 

True leadership isn’t just about pushing through. It’s about knowing when to pause, reflect, and recalibrate so that you can keep showing up—fully, and with love. 

At Idaho Neuropsychology, we believe that respite isn’t about stepping away. It’s about stepping forward—with wisdom, compassion, and longevity. 

And if you need help figuring out how to take that step, we’re here.