Respite Care in Albany, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Albany, CA: the local picture

3,063

residents 65 or older (16% of Albany)

68%

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

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Alameda County)

24

Medicare-certified hospices serve Albany ZIP codes

Most older adults in Albany live with someone: 68% 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 600 Albany residents aged 65 or older report a disability (20%) (31% in Alameda County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Albany compared with Alameda County and California

Census figure	Albany	Alameda County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	23%	23%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.3%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.9%	10%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$107,500	$80,351	—

Older residents in towns around Albany

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Berkeley, CA	2.0 mi	20,100	27%
Kensington, CA	2.1 mi	1,216	19%
El Cerrito, CA	2.2 mi	5,363	26%
Emeryville, CA	3.7 mi	1,440	24%
East Richmond Heights, CA	3.8 mi	782	17%
Richmond, CA	4.8 mi	16,769	33%

Hospices serving Albany

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Oakland	Oakland, CA	6.0 mi	(510) 752-6390
Asian Network Hospice, Inc	Oakland, CA	6.0 mi	(510) 268-1118
Ace Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc	Orinda, CA	8.0 mi	(925) 933-9012
Hospice By Blize Healthcare	Hercules, CA	8.5 mi	(510) 647-8057
Sutter Care At Home	Alameda, CA	8.8 mi	(510) 263-0900

Nursing homes near Albany (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Shields Nursing Center	El Cerrito, CA	1.2 mi	4 of 5	45	(510) 525-3212
Chaparral House	Berkeley, CA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	49	(510) 848-8774
Shields Richmond Nursing Center	Richmond, CA	3.0 mi	4 of 5	84	(510) 233-8513
Kyakameena Care Center	Berkeley, CA	3.3 mi	3 of 5	60	(510) 843-2131

Straight-line miles from the center of Albany. 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 Albany

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $8,958 monthly median income of Albany households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Albany: common questions

Which hospices serve Albany?

Medicare lists 24 hospices for Albany ZIP codes, including Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Oakland, Asian Network Hospice, Inc, Ace Home Health Care & Hospice, Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Albany?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $8,958 monthly median income of Albany households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Albany. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Albany

More senior care near Albany

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Albany

More for Albany 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 Albany, CA