You need a break, and the price of that break is set by a handful of choices. Before you compare two offers, learn what those choices are, because two quotes that look far apart may be pricing different things.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Start with the unit of billing

A facility may charge by the night, an in-home helper by the hour, and an adult day program by the day. Write down the unit each offer uses before you look at the number. If one offer is per night and another is per hour, convert both to the same stay length on paper, and ask for the total for the exact days you need.

Length and minimums

Short stays often carry a minimum, so a three-night break may cost nearly as much as a five-night break. Ask whether there is a minimum stay, whether the first night or first visit is priced differently, and whether a partial day counts as a full one.

How much hands-on help she needs

The more help she needs with walking, transfers, toileting, and watching for wandering, the more the rate moves. Describe her actual day in plain terms, then ask each provider what level of help their rate includes and what gets added when she needs more.

Timing

Last-minute bookings and busy holiday periods often cost more or have fewer openings. If you can plan the break weeks ahead, ask whether that changes the rate or the availability.

Extras outside the rate

Meals, linens, transport to appointments, incontinence supplies, and special diets are often billed on top of the base rate. Ask for a list of what is included and what is not. Ask who gives her medicine during the stay. Medicine stays with you, her doctor, and her pharmacist, and the provider should be clear about its own process.

What it costs: The Missouri median for non-medical in-home care is $33 an hour, per the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2025 state data tables, released March 2026. New Plan Care's standard rate is $34 an hour with a four-hour minimum, so a visit starts at $136 (newplancare.com/services).

Questions to ask before you say yes

Ask for the total cost for your exact dates, the minimum stay, the level of help included, the extras, the booking window, and the cancellation terms. Put every answer in writing. If the provider will not put a total in writing, that tells you something about the offer.

If you are not sure who can help you sort these offers, Local Help for Husband Caregivers lists places to start.

The Respite Break Has Its Own Meter: What Sets the Price of a Planned Stay Away