Respite Care in Akron, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Akron, PA: the local picture

925

residents 65 or older (22% of Akron)

81%

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

12%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Lancaster County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Akron ZIP codes

Most older adults in Akron live with someone: 81% 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 111 Akron residents aged 65 or older report a disability (12%) (27% in Lancaster County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Akron ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Akron compared with Lancaster County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Akron	Lancaster County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	12%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.8%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	8.3%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	3.5%	8.6%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,679	$62,531	—

Older residents in towns around Akron

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Ephrata, PA	2.0 mi	2,478	39%
Brownstown, PA	2.3 mi	597	17%
Rothsville, PA	2.4 mi	290	29%
Leola, PA	4.5 mi	1,223	31%
Lititz, PA	5.3 mi	2,539	25%
Reamstown, PA	5.9 mi	681	12%

Hospices serving Akron

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus Hospice And Palliative Care - Philadelphia	Lancaster, PA	8.0 mi	(717) 283-2672
Choices Healthcare	Lancaster, PA	9.5 mi	(717) 295-3900
Amedisys Hospice Of Lancaster	Lancaster, PA	9.6 mi	(717) 285-2039
Caring Hospice Services	Lancaster, PA	13 mi	(717) 560-1700
Masonic Village Hospice	Elizabethtown, PA	21 mi	(717) 367-1121

Nursing homes near Akron (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Maple Farm	Akron, PA	0.3 mi	5 of 5	46	(717) 859-1191
Ephrata Manor	Ephrata, PA	1.7 mi	4 of 5	120	(717) 738-4940
Fairmount Homes	Ephrata, PA	3.3 mi	5 of 5	114	(717) 354-1800
Landis Homes	Lititz, PA	4.6 mi	5 of 5	103	(717) 569-3271

Straight-line miles from the center of Akron. 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 Akron

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $6,140 monthly median income of Akron households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Akron: common questions

Which hospices serve Akron?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Akron ZIP codes, including Compassus Hospice And Palliative Care - Philadelphia, Choices Healthcare, Amedisys Hospice Of Lancaster.

How much does respite care cost in Akron?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $6,140 monthly median income of Akron households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Akron. 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 Pennsylvania.

More near Akron

More senior care near Akron

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Akron

More for Akron 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 Akron, PA