Respite Care in Atherton, CA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Atherton, CA: the local picture

1,793

residents 65 or older (26% of Atherton)

85%

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

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in San Mateo County)

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Atherton ZIP codes

Most older adults in Atherton live with someone: 85% 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 445 Atherton residents aged 65 or older report a disability (25%) (28% in San Mateo County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 12 hospices serving Atherton ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Atherton compared with San Mateo County and California

Census figure	Atherton	San Mateo County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	21%	23%
Residents 65 or older	26%	18%	16%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.2%	9.0%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.7%	5.8%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$250,001	$103,766	—

Older residents in towns around Atherton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
North Fair Oaks, CA	1.3 mi	1,662	35%
West Menlo Park, CA	1.6 mi	476	41%
Stanford, CA	2.8 mi	692	14%
Menlo Park, CA	3.3 mi	5,421	27%
Emerald Lake Hills, CA	3.6 mi	769	16%
East Palo Alto, CA	3.8 mi	3,008	38%

Hospices serving Atherton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Sutter Care At Home	San Mateo, CA	9.5 mi	(650) 685-2830
Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc.	San Mateo, CA	9.5 mi	(650) 554-1000
Pathways Home Health And Hospice	Sunnyvale, CA	11 mi	(408) 730-5900
Best Hospice Provider, Inc.	Hayward, CA	13 mi	(510) 783-4468
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Santa Clara	Santa Clara, CA	14 mi	(408) 342-6699

Nursing homes near Atherton (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Atherton Park Post-Acute	Menlo Park, CA	0.7 mi	4 of 5	160	(650) 325-8600
Vi At Palo Alto	Palo Alto, CA	1.7 mi	5 of 5	44	(650) 853-5001
Webster House	Palo Alto, CA	2.3 mi	5 of 5	145	(650) 328-3300
Palo Alto Post-Acute	Palo Alto, CA	2.5 mi	4 of 5	66	(650) 327-0511

Straight-line miles from the center of Atherton. 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 Atherton

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 7% of the $20,833 monthly median income of Atherton 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 Atherton: common questions

Which hospices serve Atherton?

Medicare lists 12 hospices for Atherton ZIP codes, including Sutter Care At Home, Mission Hospice & Home Care, Inc., Pathways Home Health And Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Atherton?

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 7% of the $20,833 monthly median income of Atherton 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 Atherton. 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 Atherton

More senior care near Atherton

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Atherton

More for Atherton 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 Atherton, CA