Respite Care in Anchorage, AK: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Anchorage, AK: the local picture

37,183

residents 65 or older (13% of Anchorage)

74%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Anchorage ZIP codes

Most older adults in Anchorage live with someone: 74% 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 12,398 Anchorage residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Anchorage ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Anchorage compared with Alaska

Census figure	Anchorage	Alaska
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	27%
Residents 65 or older	13%	14%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	0.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	5.9%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$81,770	—

Older residents in towns around Anchorage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Knik-Fairview, AK	26 mi	2,183	28%
Butte, AK	27 mi	653	37%
Gateway, AK	27 mi	648	38%
South Lakes, AK	29 mi	728	25%
Wasilla, AK	29 mi	1,659	48%
Palmer, AK	30 mi	986	47%

Hospices serving Anchorage

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Anchorage	Anchorage, AK	18 mi	(907) 563-0130
Enhabit Hospice	Anchorage, AK	20 mi	(907) 272-1275
Ancora Home Health & Hospice, LLC	Wasilla, AK	29 mi	(907) 561-9240

Nursing homes near Anchorage (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Centennial Post Acute	Anchorage, AK	15 mi	1 of 5	102	(907) 333-8100
Polaris Transitional Care	Anchorage, AK	17 mi	3 of 5	50	(907) 212-9200
Polaris Extended Care	Anchorage, AK	17 mi	2 of 5	96	(907) 212-9200

Straight-line miles from the center of Anchorage. 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 Anchorage

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,814 monthly median income of Anchorage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Anchorage: common questions

Which hospices serve Anchorage?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Anchorage ZIP codes, including Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Anchorage, Enhabit Hospice, Ancora Home Health & Hospice, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Anchorage?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,814 monthly median income of Anchorage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Anchorage. 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 Alaska: consumer-directed personal care covers Alaska.

More near Anchorage

More senior care near Anchorage

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Anchorage

More for Anchorage 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 Anchorage, AK