By Amanda Sillars, LCSW, Founder of The Wisdom Center
Caregiving can bring closeness, purpose and joy. It can also ask a great deal of one person, day after day. Taking time for yourself is one way to make caregiving sustainable—and to give the person you love more opportunities for connection and enjoyment.
What the research tells us
Caregiving affects more than a person’s schedule. In a review of 23 studies, researchers compared family caregivers with people of similar backgrounds who were not caregivers. Across several measures, caregivers had a slightly greater risk of physical health problems. The findings do not mean caregiving will make someone ill. They do show why a caregiver’s own health deserves attention.
Research on adult day services gets closer to the question many families ask: Does having a dependable break make a difference? In one study of family caregivers of people with dementia, researchers interviewed caregivers on days their relatives attended an adult day program and on days they did not. On program days, caregivers reported fewer care-related stressors, more positive experiences and less anger. They still had other responsibilities, of course, but they had time away from the immediate demands of caregiving.
Another study followed 158 caregivers and collected saliva samples over eight days to examine cortisol, a hormone involved in the body’s stress response. For some caregivers whose cortisol patterns were unusually high or flattened on days without adult day services, those patterns were closer to typical on program days. The researchers did not establish a long-term health benefit, but the findings suggest that a predictable day of relief may affect more than how a caregiver feels in the moment.
A fuller day for the person you love
A good break should feel worthwhile on both sides. At The Wisdom Center in Santa Maria, a day away from home brings chances to talk with others, enjoy music or art, play games, share a freshly prepared meal and make new friendships. People can take part in activities that interest them and become familiar with the people around them.
That social experience matters. Family relationships provide love and history; a community program adds different conversations, choices and experiences. In a study of a specialized dementia adult day program, participants showed fewer depressive behaviors after six months than a comparison group, while their caregivers reported less distress related to behavior changes.
Multiple choices and payer sources are available for our programs. We provide Respite, Adult Day Health Care, and Adult Day Programs
A break need not be reserved for a crisis or a day when you have nothing left to give. It can become a regular, welcome part of life: time for you to replenish your energy, and time for someone you love to enjoy care and connection.
Contact The Wisdom Center to learn about our respite and Adult Day Health Care programs and schedule a tour. Click here to get started
© 2026 Amanda Sillars