Respite Care in Appleton, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Appleton, WI: the local picture

12,420

residents 65 or older (17% of Appleton)

69%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Outagamie County)

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Appleton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Appleton live with someone: 69% 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 3,968 Appleton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (30% in Outagamie County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 19 hospices serving Appleton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Appleton compared with Outagamie County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Appleton	Outagamie County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	7.2%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	4.1%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,463	$55,393	—

Older residents in towns around Appleton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Kimberly, WI	2.6 mi	1,274	40%
Little Chute, WI	3.5 mi	1,696	28%
Combined Locks, WI	4.1 mi	719	19%
Menasha, WI	5.0 mi	2,578	33%
Fox Crossing, WI	5.9 mi	3,316	35%
Kaukauna, WI	6.1 mi	2,600	41%

Hospices serving Appleton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Thedacare At Home	Appleton, WI	3.0 mi	(920) 969-0919
Moments Hospice Of Appleton	Appleton, WI	5.1 mi	(920) 212-8533
St Paul Hospice Services	Kaukauna, WI	5.9 mi	(920) 766-6180
Compassus Neenah	Neenah, WI	8.1 mi	(920) 727-2000
Heartland Hospice Green Bay	De Pere, WI	19 mi	(920) 336-6455

Nursing homes near Appleton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Edenbrook Of Appleton North	Appleton, WI	0.8 mi	2 of 5	95	(920) 993-6800
Rennes Health And Rehab Center-Appleton	Appleton, WI	1.1 mi	5 of 5	88	(920) 731-7310
Meadowbrook At Appleton	Appleton, WI	2.2 mi	2 of 5	104	(920) 731-6646
Peabody Manor	Appleton, WI	3.1 mi	4 of 5	58	(920) 738-3000

Straight-line miles from the center of Appleton. 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 Appleton

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,872 monthly median income of Appleton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Appleton: common questions

Which hospices serve Appleton?

Medicare lists 19 hospices for Appleton ZIP codes, including Thedacare At Home, Moments Hospice Of Appleton, St Paul Hospice Services.

How much does respite care cost in Appleton?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,872 monthly median income of Appleton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Appleton. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Appleton

More senior care near Appleton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Appleton

More for Appleton 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 Appleton, WI