Respite Care in Altoona, PA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Altoona, PA: the local picture

7,715

residents 65 or older (18% of Altoona)

60%

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

34%

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

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Altoona ZIP codes

Most older adults in Altoona live with someone: 60% 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 2,468 Altoona residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (31% in Blair County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 14 hospices serving Altoona ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Altoona compared with Blair County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Altoona	Blair County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	35%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	21%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.8%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	9.9%
Households with no vehicle	12%	8.6%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,233	$44,599	—

Older residents in towns around Altoona

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Greenwood, PA	3.2 mi	612	29%
Hollidaysburg, PA	5.3 mi	1,334	28%
Penn Farms, PA	6.4 mi	374	32%
Tyrone, PA	14 mi	1,094	26%
Ebensburg, PA	17 mi	842	38%
Huntingdon, PA	21 mi	1,335	18%

Hospices serving Altoona

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva Ii	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	(814) 944-9724
Adoration Hospice	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	(814) 381-0100
Aseracare Hospice	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	(814) 941-2900
Family Hospice	Altoona, PA	1.0 mi	(814) 946-5411
Village In Place Hospice	Martinsburg, PA	15 mi	(814) 793-5233

Nursing homes near Altoona (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Midtown Oaks Health & Rehab Center	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	1 of 5	120	(814) 946-2700
Hilltop Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Altoona, PA	1.3 mi	2 of 5	133	(814) 946-0471
Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation And Healthcare Cente	Altoona, PA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	240	(814) 944-0845
Garvey Manor	Hollidaysburg, PA	4.1 mi	4 of 5	132	(814) 695-5571

Straight-line miles from the center of Altoona. 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 Altoona

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 38% of the $3,186 monthly median income of Altoona 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 Altoona: common questions

Which hospices serve Altoona?

Medicare lists 14 hospices for Altoona ZIP codes, including Gentiva Ii, Adoration Hospice, Aseracare Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Altoona?

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 38% of the $3,186 monthly median income of Altoona 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 Altoona. 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 Altoona

More senior care near Altoona

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Altoona

More for Altoona 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 Altoona, PA